2021 UK-Japan Business Survey – for UK businesses operating 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 you are facing.

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. How long has your company had a presence in Japan?

1 - 5 years

5 - 10 years

10 - 20 years

Over 20 years

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* 4. 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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* 5. Company scale (number of employees in Japan)

0 - no office in Japan

1 - 5

6 - 100

100 - 200

Over 200

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* 6. Do your operations in Japan provide goods and/or services (tick all that apply)

the Japanese market

China/ Hong Kong/ Macau markets

Asian markets other than Japan

the UK market

European markets outside of the UK

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 “CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement)” usage

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* 8. Has your company heard of the UK-Japan FTA, the CEPA?

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* 9. Does your business utilise the benefits of the UK-Japan FTA (CEPA)? (e.g. Tariff Rate Quotas)

Yes

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* 10. If yes, which preferences have you used?

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* 11. If not, please specify the reason why:

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* 12. How has the FTA (CEPA) impacted your business and are there any areas where you would like it to go further?

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

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

Yes

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* 14. 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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* 15. Which elements of CPTPP are you interested in? Please provide details:

Market Access

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* 16. 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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* 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 businesses operating 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. How long has your company had a presence in Japan?

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* 4. Company Sector (select all that apply)

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* 5. Company scale (number of employees in Japan)

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* 6. Do your operations in Japan provide goods and/or services (tick 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. Has your company heard of the UK-Japan FTA, the CEPA?

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* 9. Does your business utilise the benefits of the UK-Japan FTA (CEPA)? (e.g. Tariff Rate Quotas)

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* 10. If yes, which preferences have you used?

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* 11. If not, please specify the reason why:

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* 12. How has the FTA (CEPA) impacted your business and are there any areas where you would like it to go further?

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

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* 14. 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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* 15. Which elements of CPTPP are you interested in? Please provide details:

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* 16. 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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* 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?