Tokyo and London have agreed the UK's first big post-Brexit trade deal as Britain pushes to keep its economy on track after leaving the European Union.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and British Trade Secretary Elizabeth Truss signed the agreement in Tokyo on Friday.

It follows over four months of negotiations often carried out by video-conference due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu said " We intend to use this agreement as an important base to promote bilateral trade and investment between Japan and the UK, and to further strengthen and develop Japan's relationship with the UK as a strategic global partner."

British International Trade Secretary Elizabeth Truss said "How fitting it is to be in the land of the rising sun to welcome in the dawn of a new era of free trade. This is the first new free trade deal to be agreed since the UK once again became an independent trading nation."

The pact is similar to a Japan-EU trade deal that kicked in last year. Both remove tariffs on Japanese cars by 2026.

Japan's government expects to get early approval from the Diet so its UK deal can start from January 1.

Britain is due finish its transition from the EU at the end of this year.

Source: ANNnewsCH