Through its membership of the EU, the UK is currently party to just over 80 trade agreements (31 in force, and over 50 partly in place). Outside the EU Customs Union, the UK will be free to negotiate its own trade arrangements with any country or trading bloc, including the EU. But which to pursue first? And how will the complex inter-relationships and sequencing of negotiations affect the overall results?
Our Trade Partnerships section provides material that delves into the key issues surrounding the UK’s future place in the international trading system.
Commentary
An in-depth analysis of the evolving economic landscape between the United States and South Africa amidst recent policy shifts. On April 2nd, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a series of reciprocal tariffs aimed at key trading partners, including South Africa, indicating a significant shift in US trade policy. The United States and South Africa have […]
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President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on 13 February 2025 mandating “reciprocal tariffs”. The order has far reaching, and not yet fully understood, consequences for international trade and the trading system. We consider effects and possible responses. The new executive order on reciprocal tariffs President Trump’s executive order mandating “reciprocal tariffs” has been […]
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India has emerged as a significant player in the international trading system, particularly as a leading exporter of services. However, its engagement in global trade rulemaking has been marked by a cautious approach. As the global trade landscape undergoes significant changes, India faces both challenges and opportunities that will shape its future role in the […]
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The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) enters its initial transition phase in October 2023. The measure is part of the EU’s Green Deal and “Fit for 55” policy package, which aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 55% by 2030. Like many measures implemented in a “second-best” policy environment, it raises a […]
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The UK and Switzerland have announced that, after a year of exploratory talks, they would launch negotiations on an “enhanced” Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two countries also announced that they would try and conclude a mutual recognition agreement on financial services by the end of 2023. We consider some of the issues. Some quirky […]
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The UK and Switzerland have announced that, after a year of exploratory talks, they will start formal negotiations on an “enhanced” Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two countries had also announced last year that they would try and conclude a mutual recognition agreement on financial services by the end of 2023. We consider some of […]
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The Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy in conjunction with Chatham House and Resolution Foundation held their first UK Trade Policy Forum since the Covid-19 Pandemic on February 28th, 2023. This forum provided an opportune time to reflect on the aftershocks of the pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and what exactly is happening at Number 10 […]
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The EU’s new approach to trade policy is based around the idea of “strategic autonomy”. The expression covers a number of proposals. One set of proposals reflects the EU’s desire to punish trade partners for “bad behaviour”. This might include state financial support to businesses that the engage in mergers and acquisitions in the EU; […]
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This year we decided to try something new with TKE and launched our very first podcast, ‘Trade Knowledge Matters’. When we first had the idea, we hadn’t anticipated the upheavals that would affect us all this year. Creating this medium for us has been quite the adventure and encouraged each of us to step out […]
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And so, in the final watch of the night, the WTO’s negotiators cast their nets one final time, and reeled in a collection of declarations and decisions. The “Geneva Package” isn’t a haul of biblical proportions. But it did include a multilateral agreement, that has been over 20 years in the making, on eliminating the […]
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