PM Abe hopes to have basic free trade deal reached with EU next month TOKYO - Japan wants to hold informal free trade talks with the United Kingdom as it also works to sign a deal with the European Union, a report said on Sunday. Tokyo's moves aim to minimize Brexit's impact on Japanese companies as the UK negotiates its exit from the EU, the business daily Nikkei reported. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he wants to reach a basic free trade agreement with the EU next month. More than 1,000 Japanese companies operate in Britain, employing some 140,000 people in the country, while Japan's direct investment in the UK has topped 10 trillion yen ($96 billion) to date. Japanese officials have already warned businesses with European headquarters based in Britain that they may have to relocate to continental Europe after a final deal is signed between London and the EU. Japan's major automakers have so far backed the British economy, with Toyota announcing an investment in a car assembly plant while Nissan gave the green light to new investments at its plant in northeast England. Japan is planning to start informal talks with the UK while it remains in the EU, but will wait until the country has left the bloc before launching formal bilateral negotiations, the Nikkei report said, without citing sources. "As (the UK) is not allowed to launch formal negotiations with a third country under the EU rules, the Japanese and British governments will prepare (informal) talks behind the scenes," it said. Japan does not currently have a trade deal with the EU but is locked in long-running negotiations with the bloc. On Saturday, Abe said he is aiming to reach a Japan-EU free trade deal during his visit to Germany to attend a Group of 20 summit. "I hope to hold a summit meeting with the EU and reach a basic agreement there," he said. "The Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement will be a model for 21st century economic order," said Abe. He added that he hoped the EU deal would provide the same stability promised by the enormous Trans-Pacific Partnership pact. US President Donald Trump has pulled out of the TPP, effectively putting the deal on hold. The UK voted to end its four-decade membership of the 28-nation bloc in a referendum last year. Agence France-presse (China Daily 06/26/2017 page11) children's id wristbands ukcustom made rubber braceletsmotivational bracelets for athletes24 hour bracelets
HONG KONG - China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Netherlands on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme for young people of the two places.The agreement was signed by the HKSAR government's Secretary for Labor and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong, and the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, Annemieke Ruigrok.Law said, "Apart from broadening their horizons, this scheme provides an opportunity for young people in Hong Kong and the Netherlands to gain living and working experience in a foreign culture."Ruigrok hailed the MoU as a sign of the excellent shape of friendly relations between the Netherlands and Hong Kong. She encouraged young people to make full use of the opportunities provided by the scheme. "This will lead to a deeper understanding of each other's cultures, which will further strengthen our relations, today and in the future," she said.The scheme with the Netherlands is Hong Kong's 13th working holiday scheme. Since 2001, Hong Kong has established working holiday schemes with New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea, France, Britain, Austria, Hungary and Sweden. So far, more than 85,000 Hong Kong youths have benefited from these schemes.The working holiday scheme between Hong Kong and the Netherlands will commence operation on Jan 1 next year. Under the scheme, youths from each side will be able to apply for a visa, which will allow them to stay in the Netherlands or Hong Kong for up to 12 months. During the period, they may work to finance their stay or study short-term courses. There will be an annual quota of 100 from each side.
