Japan says trade deal ‘not the same’

Britain will not get a Brexit deal better than the current single market, Japan’s ambassador to the UK has said.

Koji Tsuruoka, who took up the role just over a fortnight before the referendum in June 2016, said Japanese firms are watching negotiations and want to remain in the single market after March 2019.

Car makers Nissan and Toyota have large factories in the UK and sell many of their cars into Europe from the UK.

Mrtsuruokatoldtheobserver: “The reason that many of those companies have come is that this is the best gateway to Europe. If that is in danger, if that is no longer sustainable, of course they will have to look at what they will have to do best.

“I don’t think the single market could be substituted by something and be better or even be the same.”