Trade Agreement Issues – Brexit

Context and General Issues

New Free Trade Agreement The UK’s declared intention is to leave the EU single market and EU customs union. The UK government White Paper of 2nd February 2017 confirms that the UK will not be seeking membership of the single market but will pursue, instead and start a new strategic partnership with the EU including […]

Goods and Services

Customs Union Goods and Regulation The general level of customs tariff is relatively low on average; approximately four per cent. Quotas are restricted in trade between WTO parties. Agricultural goods are subject to exceptions. Preferential quotas and tariffs subject to quotas may be negotiable in relation to agricultural products. Tariff-free access for goods to the EU […]

Various Other FTA Matters

Areas Covered As well as covering trade in goods and services, free trade agreements commonly cover a range of other issues as technical and non-tariff barriers to trade health and welfare provisions, custom and trade facilitation, subsidies competition and trade monopolies, investment, temporary entry of persons, recognition of qualifications, communications, financial services, procurement, intellectual property, […]

Investment Protection

TRIMs The Trade-Related Investment Measures Agreement provides that the Member States shall not apply trade-related investment measures which are inconsistent with the national treatment requirement or the prohibition of quantitative restrictions. There are a number of illustrative trade measures (expand on this using earlier dictations on international matters). Existing trade-related investment measures are to be […]

EU’s Existing Trade Agreements

UK’s Trade Status Post Brexit Existing EU free trade agreements cover 53 markets and one-third of the world’s economy. A specific issue is the possible loss of preferential access to those markets through trade agreements. The UK may be required to negotiate new bilateral agreements with those countries in some cases. This is necessary to […]

EU Trade Agreements

EU trade policy Trade in goods and services makes a significant contribution to increasing sustainable growth and creating jobs. More than 30 million jobs in the EU depend on exports outside the EU. 90% of future global growth is predicted to happen outside Europe’s borders. Hence – trade is a vehicle for growth and a key […]

EU Trade Legislation

EU trade legislation What is it? The European Union wants to ensure fair and equitable trade in relation with third countries. This is why, over the past years, the EU has been running a fundamental reform of key trade-related rules. The main areas covered: foreign direct investments anti-dumping trade defence instruments The EU’s new legislative initiatives aim to protect […]

Future Partnership Proposal (Oct 2017)

Future Partnership Paper and Proposed Transition The UK Government has set out in its Future Partnership paper, the proposed implementation period allowing businesses and people to adjust to the new customs relationship. This could involve a continued close association with the EU Customs Union or a new and time-limited customs union between the UK and […]

Preferential Trade Agreements

Preferential Trade Agreements. Preferential Trade Agreements are treaties between states giving preferential access to each other’s domestic market. They may be multilateral or bilateral. They are commonly regional in scope, such as the EU and NAFTA agreements. Preferential agreements are permissible under GATT rules provided that trade restrictions are eliminated on most trade between the […]

UK Proposals on Customs (August 2017)

A highly streamlined customs arrangement The UK proposes two broad approaches to its future customs relationship with the EU in its August 2017 paper on future customs arrangements. They were Highly streamlined customs arrangement. A new customs partnership. Outside the EU Customs Union, the UK proposes to fix its own customs arrangements and laws. International […]

World Trade and Intellectual Property

Older Conventions and TRIPS The Paris Convention 1883 provides for a national treatment principle. It does not set any minimum standard for patents. State party states are obliged to accept trademarks properly registered in the country of registration. The Berne Convention 1885 provides for a national treatment principle and most favourite nation principle. It provided […]

Environmental Issues

World Environmental Issues Many environmental issues are cross border in nature. Low environmental standards in one state may have an adverse effect on other states. Some environmental concerns are of a worldwide nature, including, the impact of Greenhouse gas emissions. There may be shared natural resources such as water and air bodies adjacent to national […]

Future Trading Declaration (Superseded)

Subject Political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom Delegations1 will find in the Annex the Political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom. This declaration has been agreed at negotiators’ level and agreed in […]

Proposed Trade Policy (UK White Paper)

Independent trade policy The UK’s proposal for its future economic partnership with the EU would provide a strong foundation for the UK to establish a broad and ambitious independent trade policy with the rest of the world. As the UK leaves the EU, the Government is committed to ensuring that UK and EU businesses and […]

UK Competition Proposal [Jul 2018]

State aid: context The UK wants to ensure that its future economic partnership with the EU is underpinned by measures to ensure fair and open competition. A rigorous approach to state aid is a critical component of this: The UK has long been a strong proponent of a rigorous state aid system, and has contributed […]

UK Financial Services Proposal [Jul 2018]

Overview: key features of the UK position In our White Paper, we describe these features as ultimately achieving: Principle of autonomy; Each Party to determine its own rulebook and assess whether access to its market is maintained. Expanded scope of activities permitted cross-border • Currently not sufficient for the breadth of interconnectedness between our markets • Prioritising the […]

Third Country Trade Agreements UK Post-Deal Guidance

Guidance UK trade agreements with non-EU countries Find out about the trade agreements the UK has concluded that are in effect and the progress of our discussions with other countries. Published 29 January 2020 Last updated 31 December 2020 — see all updates From: Department for International Trade Contents Trade agreements Trade agreements that took effect […]

UK Commons Committee UK US Trade

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UK Commons Committee Trade Possibilities

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UK Commons Committee Trade Remedies

UK Commons Committee Scotland Trade

UK Commons Committee Future Customs

UK Commons Committee Trade Agreements Continuity

EU Study Future Trade Relations

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Trade Preference Agreements [UK]

Guidance Trade preference agreements: import and export High level trade agreements between countries mean importers and exporters can pay less or no duty on certain goods traded with these countries. Published 2 August 2012 Last updated 28 October 2016 — see all updates From: HM Revenue & Customs Contents Introduction What preferences are and how they […]

UK Lords Committee Trade in Goods

UK Lords Committee Trade Policy

UK Lords Committee Trade Options 2017

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UK Lords Committee Future Relationship

UK Lords Note Tariffs Theory and Practice

UK Lords Note Trade Agreement

White Paper Future Relations

Trade with Ireland UK Parilament

Trade Relationships UK Parliament

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Trade in Services

Future Trading Opportunities UK Parliament

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Future Relationship UK Parliament

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Future of Sanctions UK Parliament

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New Free Trade Agreements UK Parliament

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Mutual Recognition UK Parliament

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International Agreements No Deal

International Agreements if the UK leaves the EU without a deal The UK greatly values its relationships with partners across the globe and is seeking to preserve and strengthen these as we leave the European Union. These relationships are governed in a number of ways: through formal and informal cooperation and collaboration; dialogues; Memoranda of […]

Study on Gibraltar

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UK Third Country Trade Ag Pre-Exi

Trade agreements until 31 December 2020 The UK has left the EU. The Withdrawal Agreement sets out how the UK is able to continue to be covered by EU-third country trade agreements until 31 December 2020. On this basis, EU trade agreements can continue to apply to the UK. Where EU trade agreements apply, UK […]

UK Japan Trade Agreement

Guidance Summary of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Information on the trade agreement with Japan, replacing the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. Published 23 October 2020 From: Department for International Trade New rules for January 2021 The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year. This […]

Existing Trade Agreements 2021 UK Guidance

Existing UK trade agreements with non-EU countries Trade agreements until 31 December 2020 The UK has left the EU. The Withdrawal Agreement sets out how the UK is able to continue to be covered by EU-third country trade agreements until 31 December 2020. On this basis, EU trade agreements can continue to apply to the […]

UK USA Mutual Recognition Agreement 2021 UK Guidance

UK-USA Mutual Recognition Agreement Documents relating to the UK-USA Mutual Recognition Agreement. Published 12 March 2019 From: Department for International Trade New rules for January 2021 The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year. This page tells you what you’ll need to do from 1 […]

UK Commons Trade Bill

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UK Commons Trade Agreement

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