Press Conferences

Sakamoto, NHK: The United Kingdom (UK) is likely to give official notice to the European Union (EU) side of its intention to withdraw from the EU. How does the Government view this development and how it might affect Japan?

Mr. Norio Maruyama, Foreign Press Secretary: The UK Government already notified the EU side on March 20 of its intention to give notice of its withdrawal from the EU on March 29 and thus is submitting notice of its withdrawal today. The Japanese Government is collecting and analyzing information so as to help minimize the negative impact on the activities of Japanese companies and the international community, and will continue to monitor developments in the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Sakamoto, NHK: I have a related question. I think Japanese companies operating in the UK might be forced to substantially revise their business strategies depending on what happens in the negotiations. How does the Japanese Government plan to follow up on this aspect?

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: As I just explained, the Japanese Government intends to provide support to help minimize the negative impact on the activities of Japanese companies.

Ichikawa, Jiji Press: I have a related question. How will the G7 and G20 be discussing the Brexit?

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: I would like to refrain from making speculative comments about discussions in the G7 and G20 at this stage. However, Italy, as the G7 Chair, is likely to set out its own views, in addition to some relevant items that will be carried over from the Ise-Shima Summit. I naturally expect discussion of issues faced by Europe within this overall context.

In the G20 as well, I expect a variety of opinions from various perspectives to be expressed regarding the situation in Europe and the impact of Brexit, and the recent Japan-Germany Summit Meeting also included a wide-ranging exchange of views on the matter. Nevertheless, as I just mentioned, I would like to refrain at this stage from making any speculative comments related to the G7 and G20 at this stage because various issues, including agendas, are being discussed.