2021 UK-Japan Business Survey – for UK companies interested in the Japanese Market

This survey aims to ascertain UK companies' views on priority areas for UK government engagement to support their operations in Japan. It also seeks to understand how they view their business outlook in Japan, especially in the context of trade policy and free trade agreements. This information will provide us with a clearer picture of the current situation and allow us to raise any difficulties identified with the Japanese government. We may wish to discuss further some of your responses with you, please indicate below if you would be happy to engage with us

The UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into force in January 2021. It offers multiple benefits for UK companies in a wide-range of sectors. From Autumn this year, the UK and Japanese governments will hold a series of implementation committees to ensure that the FTA is working for all companies. These committees will also allow us to raise exporting challenges including market access barriers. The UK has also begun the process to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the largest free trade areas in the world spanning Asia Pacific and the Americas and including some of the world’s biggest current and future economies.

The British Embassy Tokyo would therefore like to hear from you about your experience of exporting/doing business with Japan, or if you plan to start exporting, what challenges are you facing, as well as your interest in the wider FTA such as the UK-Japan CEPA and Uk’s potential accession to CPTPP.

Company Profile

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* 1. The personal data including name and contact details obtained through this survey will be shared with the British Embassy Tokyo in a confidential manner. If you have further request or queries regarding the treatment of your personal data, please contact BCCJ Associate Director, Sarah Backley, at sarah.backley@bccjapan.com

Company name

Your name

Your position in the company

Phone number

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* 2. Are you happy to be contacted by the British Embassy in Tokyo about your responses?

Yes

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* 3. Are you interested in doing business with/in Japan? If so, why?

Yes

Please specify

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* 4. Have you done any business with Japan in the past?

Yes

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* 5. Were there any issues which prevented you (or made exports/imports more difficult) from doing or continuing business with/in Japan? Please provide details.

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* 6. Company Sector (select all that apply)

Aerospace

Agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries

Automotive

Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals

Chemicals

Communication and media

Construction

Consultancy

Defence and security

Education and training

Electronics and IT hardware

Financial services

Food and beverage

ICT

IT Software

Leisure and tourism

Marine

Railways

Renewable energy

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Are you part of any wider sector associations? If so, do you have any feedback on how the sector associations are supporting businesses, sharing information, and helping tackle any challenges?

UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement)

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* 8. Are you aware of the UK-Japan FTA, the CEPA?

Yes

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* 9. If yes, does your business know how to utilise the FTA (CEPA) preferences? (e.g. tariffs)

Yes

Please specify.

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* 10. Has the FTA (CEPA) made doing business in Japan more attractive? Please explain why.

UK’s potential accession to CPTPP (the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership)

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* 11. Are you interested in CPTPP and is CPTPP important to your business model going forward?

Yes

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* 12. Which elements of CPTPP are you interested in (e.g. tariffs, services provisions, ISD)? Please provide details:

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* 13. What product or service offered by your business stands to benefit the most from UK membership of CPTPP? Are you anticipating any drawbacks?

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* 14. Do you have any concerns over CPTPP negotiations? Please provide details.

Market Access

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* 15. Have you experienced any market access issues (challenges to market entry or business operations in Japan) to entering Japanese market? If yes, please detail what these were below and if they have been resolved:

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* 16. Are there areas where regulatory or policy changes in Japan could open up new opportunities for your company? If yes, please set out what these are below.

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* 17. Have you raised these issues with the authorities in Japan, or know who to raise them with?

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* 18. Are you aware of the UK’s Digital Market Access Service and how to report a market access barrier?

Broader Trade Policy interest

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* 19. Does your company have any broader interest in UK Government’s Trade Policy?

FTAs or Bilateral Investment Treaties with other countries

Customs facilitation

WTO reform

Dispute settlement processes

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms

Other (please specify)

2021 UK-Japan Business Survey – for UK companies interested in the Japanese Market

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* 2. Are you happy to be contacted by the British Embassy in Tokyo about your responses?

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* 3. Are you interested in doing business with/in Japan? If so, why?

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* 4. Have you done any business with Japan in the past?

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* 5. Were there any issues which prevented you (or made exports/imports more difficult) from doing or continuing business with/in Japan? Please provide details.

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* 6. Company Sector (select all that apply)

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* 7. Are you part of any wider sector associations? If so, do you have any feedback on how the sector associations are supporting businesses, sharing information, and helping tackle any challenges?

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* 8. Are you aware of the UK-Japan FTA, the CEPA?

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* 9. If yes, does your business know how to utilise the FTA (CEPA) preferences? (e.g. tariffs)

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* 10. Has the FTA (CEPA) made doing business in Japan more attractive? Please explain why.

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* 11. Are you interested in CPTPP and is CPTPP important to your business model going forward?

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* 12. Which elements of CPTPP are you interested in (e.g. tariffs, services provisions, ISD)? Please provide details:

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* 13. What product or service offered by your business stands to benefit the most from UK membership of CPTPP? Are you anticipating any drawbacks?

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* 14. Do you have any concerns over CPTPP negotiations? Please provide details.

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* 15. Have you experienced any market access issues (challenges to market entry or business operations in Japan) to entering Japanese market? If yes, please detail what these were below and if they have been resolved:

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* 16. Are there areas where regulatory or policy changes in Japan could open up new opportunities for your company? If yes, please set out what these are below.

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* 17. Have you raised these issues with the authorities in Japan, or know who to raise them with?

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* 18. Are you aware of the UK’s Digital Market Access Service and how to report a market access barrier?

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* 19. Does your company have any broader interest in UK Government’s Trade Policy?

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* 20. Do you have any final comments?