LONDON, Aug 3 — Britain hopes to conclude a trade agreement with Japan shortly, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today, ahead of an official visit to London by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi this week.

"We’re making good progress, and we would hope that the discussions will be concluded shortly,” the spokesman told reporters at a regular briefing.

Motegi is expected to be in London between Aug. 5 and 7 and to meet his British counterpart Dominic Raab as well as trade minister Liz Truss. — Reuters