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Strategic Lens

Japan and United Kingdom

First country

Second country

In 2025, Japan sold USD 12.9 billion of goods to United Kingdom and bought USD 8.93 billion from it. The DESTA database lists 3 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP) UK accession (2023). Both are members of the G20, the G7 and the OECD. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 82 percent in 2023, and 82 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: Japan sold USD 12.9 billion and United Kingdom sold USD 8.93 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft grew about 21 times, from USD 6.5 million in 2019 to USD 137 million in 2025.
  • BothComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP) UK accession, signed 2023.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Japan sold USD 85.1 million of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 13.3 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United Kingdom sold USD 70.4 million of critical minerals and metals, against USD 9.5 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United Kingdom sold USD 634 million of agricultural and food products, against USD 115 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 21.8 billion
2025, as reported by Japan
Japan to United Kingdom
USD 12.9 billion
2025, as reported by Japan
United Kingdom to Japan
USD 8.93 billion
2025, as reported by Japan

What connects Japan and United Kingdom

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Japan sold USD 12.9 billion of goods to United Kingdom and bought USD 8.93 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Japan sold USD 85.1 million of mineral fuels and oils to United Kingdom and bought USD 13.3 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, Japan sold USD 9.5 million of critical minerals and metals to United Kingdom and bought USD 70.4 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Japan sold USD 115 million of agricultural and food products to United Kingdom and bought USD 634 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Japan sold USD 5.76 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to United Kingdom and bought USD 3.58 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Japan sold USD 688 million of electrical and electronic equipment to United Kingdom and bought USD 452 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Japan sold USD 150 million of pharmaceutical products to United Kingdom and bought USD 1.47 billion from it.

Security

Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, United Kingdom sold USD 137 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to Japan.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 3 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP) UK accession (2023).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20, the G7 and the OECD. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 82 percent in 2023, and 82 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 20 thousand people born in United Kingdom lived in Japan.

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