Existing EU Trade Agreements UK Post-Deal Guidance

Guidance

Existing UK trade agreements with non-EU countries

Find out about the trade agreements the UK has already signed and our discussions with countries the EU has a trade agreement with.

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 and EU content will continue to count toward the rules of origin requirements in EU trade agreements until 31 December 2020, in exactly the same way as now.

The EU has issued a notification to third countries outlining this approach.

If you are having problems trading during the transition period, please contact your local international trade adviser.

Trade agreements from 1 January 2021

After 31 December 2020, EU trade agreements will not apply to the UK. This will be the case regardless of any agreement with the EU.

The UK is seeking to reproduce the effects of existing EU agreements for when they no longer apply to the UK.

This will ensure continuity of trading arrangements for UK businesses.

Signed trade agreements, expected to be in effect from 1 January 2021

Agreements with the following countries and trading blocs are expected to take effect when existing EU trade agreements no longer apply to the UK, from 1 January 2021.

Agreement Country Entry into effect mechanism (2) Total UK trade with countries, 2019 (£ million) (1)
Andean countries Columbia Bridging mechanism 2,876 (total for Andean countries)
Andean countries Ecuador Full ratification 2,876 (total for Andean countries)
Andean countries Peru Bridging mechanism 2,876 (total for Andean countries)
Cameroon (Agreement in principle) Cameroon Bridging mechanism 200
CARIFORUM trade bloc Antigua and Barbuda Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Barbados Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc St. Kitts and Nevis Bridging mechanism 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Belize Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Bahamas Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Saint Lucia Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Dominica Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Dominican Republic Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Grenada Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Jamaica Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc St. Vincent and the Grenadines Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Trinidad and Tobago Bridging mechanism 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc The Republic of Guyana Provisional application 3,046 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
Central America Costa Rica Full ratification 1,411 (total for Central America)
Central America El Salvador Full ratification 1,411 (total for Central America)
Central America Guatemala Full ratification 1,411 (total for Central America)
Central America Honduras Full ratification 1,411 (total for Central America)
Central America Nicaragua Full ratification 1,411 (total for Central America)
Central America Panama Full ratification 1,411 (total for Central America)
Chile Chile Full ratification 2,171
Côte d’Ivoire Côte d’Ivoire Full ratification 398
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc Mauritius Full ratification 1,569 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc Seychelles Full ratification 1,569 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc Zimbabwe Full ratification 1,569 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)
Egypt Egypt Provisional application 3,503
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands Full ratification 293
Georgia Georgia Full ratification 183
Iceland and Norway Iceland Provisional application 26,747 (total for Iceland and Norway)
Iceland and Norway Norway Provisional application 26,747 (total for Iceland and Norway)
Israel Isreal Full ratification 5,014
Jordan Jordan To be confirmed 548
Kenya (3) Kenya Bridging mechanism 1,407
Kosovo Kosovo Full ratification 10
Lebanon Lebanon Full ratification 849
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Full ratification 159
Moldova Moldova Provisional application 395
Morocco Morocco Full ratification 2,251
North Macedonia North Macedonia Provisional application 1,774
Pacific states Fiji Provisional application 232 (total for Pacific States)
Pacific states Papua New Guinea Provisional application 232 (total for Pacific States)
Pacific states Samoa (4) Bridging mechanism 232 (total for Pacific States)
Pacific states Solomon Islands (4) Bridging mechanism 232 (total for Pacific States)
Palestinian Authority Palestinian Authority Full ratification 9
Singapore Singapore Provisional application 17,636
South Korea South Korea Full ratification 11,777
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Botswana Full ratification 11,875 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Eswatini Full ratification 11,875 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Lesotho Full ratification 11,875 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Mozambique Full ratification 11,875 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Namibia Full ratification 11,875 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc South Africa Full ratification 11,875 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Switzerland Switzerland Full ratification 37,063
Tunisia Tunisia Full ratification 561
Turkey Turkey Provisional application 18,559
Ukraine Ukraine Full ratification 1,566
Vietnam Vietnam Provisional application 5,706

Notes

1) Source of trade statistics: ONS UK total trade: all countries, non-seasonally adjusted April to June 2020.

2) Provisional application is a method well established in international treaty practice to bring agreements into effect ahead of entry into force. Bridging mechanisms are an alternative means to ensure continuity of trade, where the UK or treaty partners are unable to fully ratify or provisionally apply an agreement. These non-binding mechanisms include Memoranda of Understanding or Exchange of Diplomatic Notes which will ensure continuity of trade.

3) This agreement is open to accession by other members of East African Community.

4) Samoa and the Solomon Islands have not yet acceded to the Pacific States agreement (pending a decision on their accession), however preferences under the agreement will take effect on 1 January 2021 through a Memorandum of Understanding.

Trade agreement with Japan

The UK has signed a free trade agreement with Japan.

The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed on 23 October 2020. Find out more about this agreement.

Signed trade agreements, not expected to be fully in effect from 1 January 2021

There are some trade agreements we have signed which we do not expect to be fully in effect from 1 January 2021.

We’re exploring all options to minimise the effect that any delay in implementing these agreement could have on UK businesses.

Agreement Information on entry into effect
Canada Expected to enter into effect in early 2021. Preferential tariff rates will be applied from 1 January 2021
Mexico Expected to enter into effect in early 2021

Trade agreements still in discussion

The following agreements are still under discussion with countries where there are existing EU trade agreements in place.

If an agreement is not in force by 1 January 2021:

Country or bloc Status of discussions
Albania Engagement ongoing
Algeria (1) Engagement ongoing, agreement will not be in place for 1 January 2021. Trade expected to take place under WTO terms (Generalised Scheme of Preferences for imports).
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) Engagement ongoing, agreement will not be in place for 1 January 2021. Trade expected to take place under WTO terms.
Ghana Engagement ongoing
Montenegro Engagement ongoing, agreement will not be in place for 1 January 2021. Trade expected to take place under WTO terms.
Serbia (1) Engagement ongoing, agreement will not be in place for 1 January 2021. Trade expected to take place under WTO terms.

Note

1) Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are not members of the World Trade Organisation. UK exports will be subject to partner country national legislation.

Trade agreement discussions with countries in Customs Unions with the EU

Andorra, San Marino and Turkey are part of Customs Unions with the EU. The UK’s future trading relationship with these countries will be influenced by the agreement the UK reaches with the EU.

Mutual recognition agreements

A mutual recognition agreement (MRA) is one in which countries recognise the results of one another’s conformity assessments.

A conformity assessment is a set of processes that confirm whether a product meets the specified legal requirements. This can include testing, inspection, and certification.

The UK has signed MRAs that replicate the effect of existing EU arrangements. These are expected to take effect from 1 January 2021. The withdrawal agreement allows for the EU’s arrangements to continue to apply to the UK until then.

The UK has signed MRAs with:

MRA coverage in trade agreements

The UK’s trade agreement with Switzerland incorporates elements of the EU-Switzerland MRA.

The UK’s trade agreement with Israel covers conformity assessment of industrial products. This means that existing arrangements with Israel will continue after 31 December 2020.

The UK-Japan CEPA replicates the effects of the existing EU-Japan MRA.

More information

Check:

Find out:

Published 29 January 2020
Last updated 30 December 2020