UK trade agreements with non-EU countries

15 March 2021

 

Find out about the trade agreements the UK has concluded that are in effect and the progress of our discussions with other countries.

Trade agreements

As of 1 January 2021, EU trade agreements no longer apply to the UK.The UK has sought to reproduce the effects of trading agreements that previously applied to it to ensure continuity for UK business.

Trade agreements that took effect from 1 January 2021

Agreements with the following countries and trading blocs took effect from 1 January 2021. Where the agreement has not yet been ratified, provisional application or bridging mechanisms have been put in place to ensure continuity of trade.

Agreement

Country

Entry into effect mechanism (1)

Total UK trade with countries, 2019 (£ million) (2)

Andean countries

Colombia

Bridging mechanism

2,507 (total for Andean countries)

Andean countries

Ecuador

Full ratification

2,507 (total for Andean countries)

Andean countries

Peru

Full ratification

2,507 (total for Andean countries)

Cameroon

Cameroon

Bridging mechanism

177

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Antigua and Barbuda

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Barbados

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

St. Kitts and Nevis

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Belize

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Bahamas

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Saint Lucia

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Dominica

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Dominican Republic

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Grenada

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Jamaica

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

Trinidad and Tobago

Bridging mechanism

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

CARIFORUM trade bloc

The Republic of Guyana

Provisional application

3,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)

Central America

Costa Rica

Full ratification

1,314 (total for Central America)

Central America

El Salvador

Full ratification

1,314 (total for Central America)

Central America

Guatemala

Full ratification

1,314 (total for Central America)

Central America

Honduras

Full ratification

1,314 (total for Central America)

Central America

Nicaragua

Full ratification

1,314 (total for Central America)

Central America

Panama

Full ratification

1,314 (total for Central America)

Chile

Chile

Full ratification

2,098

Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire

Full ratification

488

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc?

Mauritius

Full ratification

1,560 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc?

Seychelles

Full ratification

1,560 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc?

Zimbabwe

Full ratification

1,560 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)

Egypt

 ?

Egypt

Full ratification

3,331

Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands

Full ratification

282

Georgia

Georgia

Full ratification

174

Ghana

Ghana

Provisional application

1,155

Iceland and Norway

Iceland

Provisional application

26,975 (total for Iceland and Norway)

Iceland and Norway

Norway

Provisional application

26,975 (total for Iceland and Norway)

Israel

Israel

Full ratification

5,059

Japan

Japan

Full ratification

29,182

Kenya (3)

Kenya

Bridging mechanism

1,369

Kosovo

Kosovo

Full ratification

10

Lebanon

Lebanon

Full ratification

829

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein

Full ratification

83

Moldova

Moldova

Provisional application

254

Morocco

Morocco

Provisional application

2,120

North Macedonia

North Macedonia

Provisional application

1,770

Pacific states

Fiji

Provisional application

273 (total for Pacific States)

Pacific states

Papua New Guinea

Provisional application

273 (total for Pacific States)

Pacific states

Samoa (4)

Bridging mechanism

273 (total for Pacific States)

Pacific states

Solomon Islands (4)

Bridging mechanism

273 (total for Pacific States)

Palestinian Authority

Palestinian Authority

Full ratification

7

Singapore

Singapore

Full ratification

17,028

South Korea

South Korea

Full ratification

11,940

Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc

Botswana

Full ratification

10,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)

Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc

Eswatini

Full ratification

10,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)

Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc

Lesotho

Full ratification

10,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)

Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc

Mozambique

Full ratification

10,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)

Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc

Namibia

Full ratification

10,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)

Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc

South Africa

Full ratification

10,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)

Switzerland

Switzerland

Full ratification

37,147

Tunisia

Tunisia

Full ratification

651

Turkey

Turkey

Provisional application

19,386

Ukraine

Ukraine

Full ratification

1,633

Vietnam

Vietnam

Provisional application

5,822

Notes

1) 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 and ensure continuity of trade.

2) Source of trade statistics: ONS UK total trade: all countries, non-seasonally adjusted July to September 2020.

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-UK Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (pending a decision on their accession), however preferences under the agreement took effect on 1 January 2021 through a Memorandum of Understanding.

Signed trade agreements, not fully in effect

There are some trade agreements the UK has signed which are partially applied or have not fully taken effect yet.

Agreement

Information on entry into effect

Albania

Expected to enter into effect in early 2021. Trade takes place under WTO terms.

Canada

Expected to enter into effect in early 2021. Preferential tariff rates are being applied.

Jordan

Expected to enter into effect on 1 May 2021. Trade takes place under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences for imports and under WTO terms for UK exports.

Mexico (1)

Expected to enter into effect in early 2021. Preferential tariff rates are being applied.

Notes(1) The UK has committed to apply preferential tariff rates on goods imported into the UK from Mexico from 1 January 2021. In return, Mexico has committed to implement a tariff rebate scheme, so that as soon as the Trade Continuity Agreement enters into force in Mexico, any businesses that have paid tariffs on goods which would attract a preference under the agreement, between 1 January and the agreement coming into force will be able to get a refund.

Trade agreements still in discussion

The following agreements are still under discussion with countries where trading agreements were in place before 1 January 2021.For these countries:

Country or bloc

Status of discussions

Algeria (1)

Engagement ongoing, agreement is not yet in place. Trade takes place under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences for imports. UK exports will be subject to partner country national legislation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (1)

Engagement ongoing, agreement is not yet in place. Trade takes place under WTO terms for imports. UK exports will be subject to partner country national legislation.

Montenegro

Engagement ongoing, agreement is not yet in place. Trade takes place under WTO terms.

Serbia (1)

Engagement ongoing, agreement is not yet in place. Trade takes place under WTO terms for imports. UK exports will be subject to partner country national legislation.

Note

(1) Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are not members of the World Trade Organisation.

Trading with countries in Customs Unions with the EU

Andorra and San Marino are part of customs unions with the EU. The UK has agreed with the EU that all products originating in San Marino and all non-agricultural products (chapters 25-97) originating in Andorra are to be treated as originating in the EU under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement as long as Andorra and San Marino apply to UK products the same preferences that the EU applies to them. These products benefit from zero tariffs, where they meet the relevant rules of origin. Trade with Andorra of agricultural products (chapters 01-24) is not in scope of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and takes place under WTO terms.

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

More information

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Published 29 January 2020
Last updated 9 March 2021 + show all updates

 

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