1 November 2021: UK-Japan CEPA Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce – joint minutes
Updated 3 May 2024
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Joint Minutes of the First Meeting of the Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce under the Agreement between Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership
1st November 2021 (Online)
The first meeting of the Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce (“the Committee”) under the Agreement between Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“the UK”) for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership (“the CEPA”) took place on 1st November 2021 online.
Japanese participants from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), and Financial Services Agency (FSA) and UK participants from the Department for International Trade (DIT), Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and British Embassy in Tokyo had a fruitful exchange of views on matters related to Chapter 8 (Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce) of the CEPA.
The meeting agenda was adopted.
Both sides discussed Audio-visual Services (further to Article 8.4.2 (b) and (d) of the CEPA). The UK confirmed that it would provide Japan with written information on its Audio-Visual services regulations following the UK’s departure from the European Union.
Both sides also discussed cooperation on electronic commerce (Article 8.83 of the CEPA), notably the treatment of digital products. Japan requested clarification of the UK’s general position, including provisions on the non-discrimination of digital products (NDDP) in its trade agreements. The UK explained that its position remained not seeking to include NDDP provisions in its bilateral treaties. Japan would welcome further discussions on this matter.
On cooperation on digitalisation and digital issues in relation to trade in services, the UK and Japan shared recognition of the importance of the high standard digital provisions set out in the CEPA. The UK suggested further mutually beneficial cooperation to promote digitalisation, including through e-government and applications being accepted in electronic format, in addition to its expertise sharing with relevant Japanese authorities. Both sides shared the importance of working together on further cooperation on digitalisation.
Both sides further discussed the progress of domestic frameworks on electronic authentication (Article 8.77 of the CEPA).
Both sides exchanged views on recent developments relating to investment.
Each side underlined the importance of continuing further discussions, as well as the importance of a full and effective implementation of Chapter 8 of the CEPA. Japan expressed its gratitude to the UK for the offer to host the next Committee meeting in 2022. Lastly, both sides will take stock of the progress of the CEPA’s implementation as needed in the next Committee meeting.