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The 27th UK–Japan Business Partnership Seminar Held

On February 27, 2026, the British Market Council (BMC), co-hosted with Japan Foreign Trade Council, Inc. (JFTC), held the 27th UK–Japan Business Partnership Seminar at the JFTC conference room. Approximately 40 members and related parties attended the event. This year’s theme was "UK–Japan Cooperation in the Field of Economic Security."

Following opening remarks by Mr. Baba, Senior Vice President of Mitsubishi Corporation, one of the BMC’s executive member companies, remarks were delivered by Mr. Ben Morrow, Head of Performance and Delivery, Department for Business and Trade, British Embassy Tokyo, and Mr. Kawazu, Executive Managing Director of JFTC. The seminar featured presentations by two speakers.

First, Ms. Rhiannon Lloyd-Jones, Second Secretary for Economic and Trade Policy at the British Embassy Tokyo, delivered a presentation entitled “UK–Japan Trade Relationship in 2026.” She discussed the deepening of UK–Japan economic cooperation based on the UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as the increasingly inseparable relationship between trade expansion and economic security cooperation.

This was followed by a presentation entitled “Economic Security and Public-Private and International Cooperation” by Mr. Masahiko Uchino, Principal Deputy Director of the Economic Security Policy Division, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). His presentation focused on the fundamental concepts of economic security, concrete measures under Japan’s economic security policy framework and the Economic Security Promotion Act, support for corporate initiatives and enhanced public-private collaboration, as well as international cooperation and future policy directions.
Following the seminar, a networking reception was held. Mr. Higuchi, President of Manufactured Imports and Investment Promotion Organization (MIPRO) and Vice Chairman of the BMC, delivered remarks and proposed a toast. Participants from the British Embassy Tokyo, METI, and member organizations enjoyed lively exchanges in a warm and friendly atmosphere, bringing the event to a successful close.