The largest international business group in Japan has warned that the country’s tight border restrictions risk staunching foreign investment and crushing Tokyo’s efforts to compete as a global financial centre.

Christopher LaFleur, a special adviser and former chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, said a de facto ban on the entry of non-resident foreigners would probably deter international companies from maintaining a presence in the country.

“The policies that Japan has implemented with respect to travel are at a minimum going to greatly retard those efforts. Also, frankly, they cast some doubt on Japan’s willingness to serve as a reliable host to foreign-based businesses and for foreign-originated investment,” LaFleur told the Financial Times in an interview.