Decision

16 January 2023: UK-Japan CEPA Working Group on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment – joint minutes

Updated 3 May 2024

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Online, Tokyo and London, 16 January 2023.

The second meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment (“the WG”) under the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) and Japan for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership (“the Agreement”) took place online on 16 January 2023.

Japanese participants from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Gender Equality Bureau of the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japanese Embassy in the UK and the UK participants from Department for International Trade (DIT), Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the British Embassy in Tokyo had a fruitful exchange of views on matters related to Chapter 21 of the Agreement (Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment).

The meeting agenda was adopted.

Both sides reaffirmed that the Rules of Procedure (RoP) for the Joint Committee, which was formally adopted in February 2022, would apply mutatis mutandis to the WG based on mutual understanding.

Building on the outcomes of the 2021/2022 WG, both sides exchanged detailed information on areas of interest identified at the first WG meeting. The UK presented on their Global Entrepreneurs Programme Female Founders Group, analysis of the gendered impacts of UK-Japan trade on women as workers in the UK, and domestic policies to encourage participation of women in the labour market. Japan followed with presentations on their Basic Policy on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women 2022, support for Women Entrepreneurs and reported on the World Assembly for Women: WAW! 2022.

In the discussion regarding gender-based data analysis, the UK expressed their interest in continuing to share knowledge and experience of building the evidence base, including further information on the datasets available in Japan.

In relation to the discussion on participation of women in the labour market, the UK confirmed its intention to share their Menopause and The Workplace Report and recommendations with Japan.

In relation to the presentation on The Basic Policy on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women 2022, Japan confirmed its intention to share with the UK when a sufficient data set is available, additional details of the result of the introduction of the mandatory corporate disclosure system regarding the gender pay gap as well as expansion of the application of The Act on Promotion of Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace.

In relation to the discussion on the programme to promote women entrepreneurship, the UK side showed interest in continuing to exchange views on how to incorporate gender mainstreaming perspective into existing entrepreneurship support programme. UK also expressed their willingness to participate in the future WAW!.

Regarding bilateral cooperative activities under the Agreement, both sides welcomed the roundtable organised on the International Women’s Day 2022 and expressed mutual interest in using the World Expo 2025, which will take place in Osaka, Japan, as an opportunity to promote trade and women’s economic empowerment. For that effect, both sides affirmed their intention to hold working level discussions ahead of the Expo.

Both sides expressed interests in cooperating in the G7’s work to promote gender equality, and Japan confirmed continuous efforts in this area under their presidency.

Both sides confirmed that they would continue to exchange information regarding trade and women’s economic empowerment in future WG meetings and underlined the importance and their willingness to further cooperate for effective implementation of Chapter 21 of the Agreement. The UK will be the host of the next WG meeting. The date of the future WG meeting will be arranged via contact points.

Agenda

Issues on the agenda:

  1. Welcome and short opening remarks

  2. Adoption of the agenda

  3. Adoption of the Rules of Procedure

  4. Presentations on current women’s economic empowerment and gender equality programming and policies

  5. Update on the status of cooperative activities

  6. Any other business (including calendar of the next WG meeting)

  7. Closing remarks

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