Press Conference by Minister Seko (excerpted version)

*Note: This is a provisional translation for reference purpose only.

8:50 - 8:52 a.m.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Committee Room Annex, the House of Representatives

Question-and-Answer Session

The UK Withdrawal from the EU

Q: The UK withdrawal from the EU was postponed until the end of October. Would you tell us what your thoughts are on the impact on Japanese companies and the Japanese government’s response?

A: As the UK withdrawal from the EU was postponed until October 31, a possible no-deal Brexit on April 12 has been avoided.
However, the agreement between the UK and the EU has not yet been ratified, and the outlook remains unclear.
While paying close attention to the situation surrounding the UK decision to leave the EU, I will respond as necessary, such as promptly providing relevant information to Japanese companies, listening to concerns from industry, and responding to consultations from SMEs.

Import Restrictive Measures for Japanese Fisheries Products by the Republic of Korea

Q: The WTO ruling upheld the Republic of Korea’s ban on the import of fishery products from disaster-stricken areas. Would you tell us what your thoughts are on this?

A: It is regrettable that Japan's assertion was not accepted, but I will carefully analyze the content of the WTO report and make a decision on how to respond to it.