TOKYO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Friday voiced its concern over further uncertainty related to Britain's exit from the European Union following a vote in parliament to delay the plan.
While vowing to ensure that Japanese companies would not be adversely affected, industry minister Hiroshige Seko told a press briefing on the matter Friday that the situation remains unclear.
"The outlook remains uncertain because we don't know how long the delay will be and whether the European Union will approve it," Seko said.
"Should the deadline not be extended and Britain leave the European Union without a deal, it will have an extremely grave impact on Japanese businesses," he added.
Britain's House of Commons on Thursday voted to seek a delay to the planned exit from the EU from March 29 as scheduled to June 30.
On Wednesday, Britain's House of Commons voted to prevent Britain from leaving the EU without a deal in any circumstances.
On this point, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said that despite the no-deal scenario being shut down, uncertainties remain as to how much more leeway the EU is prepared to give Britain.
"Although a no-deal exit was voted down, we cannot predict what will happen because it depends on how negotiations with the European Union will go, We will have to watch developments closely," Aso said.
Major Japanese automakers based in Britain, which account for around 50 percent of all auto production there, have already been rattled by uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Japan's top government spokesperson has urged both Britain and the EU to ensure that the departure process holds no further surprises and be "legally stable."
"We will take necessary steps such as providing Japanese companies with information and assistance," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a separate press briefing on the matter Friday.
