BRUSSELS – May 13, 2020 – BSA | The Software Alliance welcomes today’s release of negotiating objectives for free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the United Kingdom and Japan. The UK and Japan’s economies are two of the most open and innovative economies, and both countries stand to benefit from a trade agreement with strong digital trade provisions. According to the United Kingdom’s negotiating objectives, a UK-Japan FTA could increase bilateral trade by £15.2 billion.

“The UK-Japan FTA creates an opportunity for both countries to create jobs and value by growing digital trade,” said Joseph Whitlock, Director, Policy at BSA | The Software Alliance. “BSA urges both countries to adopt provisions that build on prior agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the US-Japan Digital Trade Agreement.”