Japan and UK reach general agreement on new trade pact

Deal marks first post-Brexit accord between Britain and other countries

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Mogi, left, and U.K. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss meet on Aug. 7 in London. (Photo provided by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) © Kyodo

MASAYA KATO and TAKAKO GAKUTO, Nikkei staff writers

September 11, 2020 17:05 JST

Updated on September 11, 2020 20:43 JST

TOKYO -- Japan and the U.K. reached a general agreement on their new Economic Partnership Agreement on Friday, amid hopes of minimizing the impact of Brexit on businesses.

The two countries agreed to adopt most of the preferential tariffs of the Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the European Union. Tariffs on railway cars and auto parts exported from Japan to the U.K. will be abolished as soon as the new pact becomes effective.