Brexit: challenges for Japanese businesses
Apr 19, 2018
Brexit: challenges for Japanese businesses
On March 28, 2017, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) Theresa May, signed the document officialising the exit of the UK from the European Union (EU). This formal notice initialized the operation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) which means UK has two years to complete a withdrawal agreement with EU in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union..
Three days later, on March 31, 2017, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk sent to the 27 heads of states and governments of the EU (excluding the UK), a guideline aimed to assist them during the negotiation process. Reaching an agreement within two years will be a difficult process considering the opposing interest of all the involved actors. Therefore, Article 50 of the TEU, provides that the two years period can be extended if the European Council unanimously decides it, in agreement with the Member State concerned.
Position of Japan in the UK
Japan has showed its concern regarding the Brexit by a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on September 4th, 2016, that gained media attention for listing numerous requests to the UK government as well as the EU in order to protect the future of Japanese businesses in the UK. Indeed, the concern of the Japanese ministry is justified because Japan is a large investor in the UK. Half of the Japanese investments in the EU direct to the UK which hosts around 1,380 Japanese businesses which employ around 140,000 workers in the UK.
Potential options for the UK
The UK is still a member of the EU during the negotiations. Therefore, it can still benefit from the European single market. This market allows for the freed movement of goods, persons, services and capital within the EU territory. The Japanese businesses, and all actors of the exit in general, will surely face a period of uncertainty until official announcements of negotiation terms clarify whether the UK will still be able to benefit from some aspects of the single market. Nevertheless, it is possible for businesses to prepare for the upcoming potential changes.
In looking at some non-EU countries’ relationships with the EU, one can see various structures that the UK may negotiate. Many of these structures allow non-EU countries to benefit from the different freedoms deriving from the European single market. For example:
-The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) includes Switzerland
-The European Economic Area (EEA) includes Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland
-Free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU like how Japan is currently negotiating
-Bilateral Customs Union with EU, like Turkey
-World Trade Organisation (WTO), where its rules apply as default
All these agreements will allow the UK to establish a new model of economic relation with the EU. It will also allow it to secure the activities of Japanese businesses. It is however necessary to understand the effects of all these different models and prepare accordingly. The uncertainties may result in companies creating special Brexit teams. These will analyse all the different legal and tax considerations, in order to provide specific recommendations to assist companies. We aim to explore in more detail in another article regarding to what extent businesses can prepare for Brexit.
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