UK and Japan agree on need to work together to lower trade barriers

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba agreed on the need for like-minded countries to work together to lower trade barriers, Starmer's office said following a call between the two leaders on Thursday.

"On trade, the leaders agreed that a trade war does not benefit anyone, and that now is the time for a cool, calm and pragmatic approach," Downing Street said in a readout.

"They agreed on the importance of like-minded partners such as the UK and Japan to work closely together to lower trade barriers."

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Ros Russell)