techUK-JEITA Joint Statement on the UK-Japan Tech Forum
Jointly hosted by techUK and the Japan Electronics and Information Technology
Industries Association (JEITA), the UK-Japan Tech Forum is a platform that brings
together UK and Japanese tech companies, as well as stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the key issues that affect trade and investment between thetwo countries. This year’s Forum was focused on the ongoing UK-Japan Free Trade
Agreement negotiations and the UK-Japan collaboration in the post-COVID-19
recovery stage.
UK and Japanese tech companies are global leaders in innovation, R&D anddelivering the sustainable growth, vital in this time of uncertainty. techUK andJEITA call on negotiators to conclude an agreement as soon as possible, to allow
business the legal certainty they need from 1 January 2021.
techUK and JEITA are highly supportive of the UK and Japanese governments’ambition to achieve a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, withstate-of-the-art provisions on digital and telecoms. To be modern and groundbreaking, this imminent agreement will likely include key principles on digitaltrade, in particular those that:•Enable the cross-border flow of data without compromising dataprotection standards;•

Prevent the forced localization of data;•

Facilitate regulatory access to data;•

Foster cross-border data flows for financial data, which should not betreated differently to other categories of data;•

Commit to the ongoing duty-free treatment of products aligned with
the WTO’s ITA and ITA2 agreements, and collaborate to expand dutyfree coverage for innovative new technologies;•Protect the moratorium on digital tariffs by including it in theagreement;•

Prevent the mandatory transfer of source codes, algorithms, orencryption keys as a condition for market access;•Support the development of AI through enabling open government
data and text and data mining while respecting intellectual property;•

Establish cooperation on the regulation of AI, fintech and emerging
technologies;•

Establish cooperation on cybersecurity issues with an emphasis on arisk-based approach;•Standardise minimum de minimis thresholds to facilitate ecommerce;•Secure recognition of e-signatures and expansion of paperless trading.

By including such provisions, the UK and Japan have an opportunity to set highstandards for digital trade and promote an open and rules-based international
trade agenda. With the borders between the digital economy and the economy asa whole increasingly blurred, we believe digital trade provides a key opportunity
for economic recovery, growth and resilience, as well as for increased investment
in each other’s markets.
techUK and JEITA also recognize that both economies already share strong
collaboration, trade and investment links, especially in the technology sector. Bothcountries are major exporters and investors in each other’s economies.
The UK-Japan FTA has the potential to unlock a new wave of collaboration acrossvarious technology verticals and engagement areas, including tech trade andinvestment, research and development and technology partnerships, amongothers.
In order to unlock these opportunities, techUK and JEITA will explore running aworking group to explore complimentary technology areas and optimize FTA
opportunities, turbo-boosting the UK-Japan trade and investment relationship andcarrying through implementation of the FTA on a practical level. The working groupwill be convened through the joint techUK-JEITA initiative, the UK-Japan TechForum.
On a practical level, techUK and JEITA also commit to strengthening therelationship between techUK members and Japanese companies by exploring
virtual engagement in the upcoming CEATEC event, the biggest IT trade show inJapan which displays the Society 5.0 – the society that makes full use of advancedtechnologies. Hosted by JEITA, CEATEC 2020 Online will introduce new solutions
for the sustainable development through the use of the latest technologies. techUK
will work with JEITA to enable techUK members to take advantage of theseemerging tech collaboration opportunities.
The Chair of the UK-Japan Tech Forum, Paul Patterson, CEO and Head ofNorthern & Western Europe, Fujitsu, commented on the recent meeting:“The UK and Japan are natural partners with already strong links built upon sharedvalues and inter-connected economies. This relationship is especially strong inthe technology sector with both countries committed to innovation. The UK-JapanFTA can deliver new and exciting opportunities to drive growth and prosperity forboth nations. I look forward to working together with both governments and thebusiness communities from Japan and the UK to unlock new collaboration areas
through the future activities of the UK-Japan Tech Forum.”
Julian David, CEO, techUK, said:“The technology sector has been one of the success stories for UK-Japancollaboration. With the conclusion of the UK-Japan EPA in sight, both the UK andJapan have the opportunity to unlock a new wave of tech partnerships and growth.
We must however ensure that the new agreement delivers on opening for further
avenues in tech collaboration, trade and investment, and creates an enabling
environment for innovation. I look forward to working with partners through theUK-Japan Tech Forum to optimize the FTA opportunities and turbo-boost the UKJapan tech collaboration through joint initiatives.”
Keiichi Kawakami, Senior Executive Vice President, JEITA, said:“UK-Japan Tech Forum showed that technology sector in both countries hope forhigh-level rules on electronic commerce in Japan-UK FTA in sight, as stepping
forward to Data Free Flow with Trust or DFFT agreed by the G20 meeting last yearin Japan. To strengthen the relationship between Japan and UK technology sector,
I look forward to working with techUK to take advantage of CEATEC 2020 ONLINE
held in coming October as an opportunity for co-creation among enterprises andstart-ups in both countries for innovation toward the Society 5.0.”

About techUK:
techUK is a membership organisation that brings together people, companies andorganisations to realise the positive outcomes of what digital technology canachieve. We collaborate across business, government and stakeholders to fulfil
the potential of technology to deliver a stronger society and more sustainable
future. By providing expertise and insight, we support our members, partners andstakeholders as they prepare the UK for what comes next in a constantly changing
world.
About JEITA:The Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA)
is a Japanese trade organisation for the electronics and IT industries. The objectiveof JEITA is to promote the healthy manufacturing, international trade andconsumption of electronics products and components in order to contribute to theoverall development of the electronics and information technology industries, andthereby further Japan’s economic development and cultural prosperity. JEITA’s
mission is to foster a digital network society for the 21st century, in which IT
advancement brings fulfillment and a higher quality of life to everyone.
About UK-Japan Tech Forum:
Hosted by techUK and the Japan Electronics and Information Technology
Industries Association (JEITA), the UK-Japan Tech Forum is a platform to allow
businesses to engage with key stakeholders in government and business in areasof UK-Japan trade, policy and market growth in both countries.
The forum isfor representatives of businesses, government and other stakeholders interested
in influencing or understanding the policy landscape impacting the technology
sector, trade relations, and the market opportunities and challenges in Japan andthe UK. The forum brings members together to discuss issues and events thatmay impact their growth in the UK and Japan and provides an avenue for collective
concerns to be aired and discussed with both governments. Moreover, it provides
a platform for participants to explore emerging opportunities for growth andexpand their business networks.