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.
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 inthat 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, 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
Albania | Albania | Full ratification | 55 |
Andean countries | Colombia | Bridging mechanism | 2,018 |
Andean countries | Ecuador | Full ratification | 2,018 |
Andean countries | Peru | Full ratification | 2,018 |
Canada | Canada | Full ratification | 17,662 |
Cameroon | Cameroon | Provisional |
163 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Antigua and Barbuda | Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Bahamas |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Barbados |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Belize | Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Dominica |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Dominican |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Grenada |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Guyana | Provisional |
2,897 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc) |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Jamaica | Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | St. Kitts and Nevis |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Saint Lucia |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Provisional application | 2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Suriname |
Provisional |
2,897 |
CARIFORUM trade bloc | Trinidad |
Provisional application | 2,897 |
Central America | Costa Rica | Full ratification | 1,263 |
Central America | El Salvador | Full ratification | 1,263 |
Central America | Guatemala | Full ratification | 1,263 |
Central America | Honduras | Full ratification | 1,263 |
Central America | Nicaragua | Full ratification | 1,263 |
Central America | Panama | Full ratification | 1,263 |
Chile | Chile | Full ratification | 1,360 |
Côte d’Ivoire | Côte d’Ivoire | Full ratification | 501 |
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc | Mauritius | Full ratification | 1,377 |
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc | Seychelles | Full ratification | 1,377 |
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc | Zimbabwe | Full ratification | 1,377 |
Egypt | Egypt | Full ratification | 2,742 |
Faroe Islands | Faroe Islands | Full ratification | 503 |
Georgia | Georgia | Full ratification | 148 |
Ghana | Ghana | Provisional application | 869 |
Iceland and Norway | Iceland | Provisional application | 21,441 |
Iceland and Norway | Norway | Provisional application | 21,441 |
Israel | Israel | Full ratification | 4,829 |
Japan | Japan | Full ratification | 24,687 |
Jordan | Jordan | Full ratification | 606 |
Kenya (3) | Kenya | Bridging mechanism | 1,014 |
Kosovo | Kosovo | Full ratification | 15 |
Lebanon | Lebanon | Full ratification | 560 |
Liechtenstein | Liechtenstein | Full ratification | 173 |
Mexico | Mexico | Full ratification | 3,638 |
Moldova | Moldova | Provisional application | 918 |
Morocco | Morocco | Provisional application | 1,456 |
North Macedonia | North Macedonia | Provisional application | 1,443 |
Pacific states | Fiji | Provisional application | 332 |
Pacific states | Papua New Guinea | Provisional application | 332 |
Pacific states | Samoa (4) | Bridging mechanism | 332 |
Pacific states | Solomon Islands (4) | Bridging mechanism | 332 |
Palestinian Authority | Palestinian Authority | Full ratification | 20 |
Serbia | Serbia | Provisional application | 614 |
Singapore | Singapore | Full ratification | 14,091 |
South Korea | South Korea | Full ratification | 11,224 |
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc | Botswana | Full ratification | 8,689 |
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc | Eswatini | Full ratification | 8,689 |
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc | Lesotho | Full ratification | 8,689 |
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc | Mozambique | Full ratification | 8,689 |
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc | Namibia | Full ratification | 8,689 |
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc | South Africa | Full ratification | 8,689 |
Switzerland | Switzerland | Full ratification | 33,970 |
Tunisia | Tunisia | Full ratification | 492 |
Turkey | Turkey | Provisional application | 15,085 |
Ukraine | Ukraine | Full ratification | 1,286 |
Vietnam | Vietnam | Provisional application | 4,824 |
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 OctoberJuly to DecemberSeptember 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.
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:
- the government has put in place the UK global tariff
- trade with other WTO members is taking place on WTO terms
- trade with eligible developing countries is taking place under the UK’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences
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. |
Note
(1) Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are not members of the World Trade Organization.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
Check:
Find out:
- how you trade with a country if there is no trade agreement in place following the transition period
- about EU free trade agreements in which the UK currently participates
- about EU mutual recognition agreements in which the UK currently participates
- about international agreements with non-EU countries during the transition period
- about the notice of fulfilment from the United Kingdom on cumulation with trading partners: December 2020
Last updated 1
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Mexico moved into 'Trade agreements in effect' section following full ratification of agreement.
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Changed status of Albania, Canada and Jordan to full ratification and moved to 'Trade agreements in effect' section. Serbia added as provisional application agreement. Trade statistics for all countries updated.
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Cameroon 'entry into effect mechanism' changed from bridging mechanism to provisional application.
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Updated because Suriname is now covered by the CARIFORUM States economic partnership agreement.
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Links updated to reflect the interim trade partnership agreement with Ghana and interim economic partnership agreement with Cameroon.
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Removed the agreement in principle for Cameroon because the agreement is now signed.
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Updated to reflect the entry into effect of the Ghana-UK EPA.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the Ghana-UK EPA.
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Update to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Egypt and UK-Singapore agreements.
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Trade agreements that took effect from 1 January 2021’ table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics.
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Moved Albania from 'under discussion' to 'signed but not in effect' table. Also updated the St. Kitts and Nevis entry as they have now ratified the CARIFORUM agreement.
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Updated to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Andean agreement with Peru.
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Updated to add links to the agreement documents for Mexico, Moldova, Vietnam and Turkey. Added a link to the summary of the Cameroon trade agreement.
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Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Cameroon Agreement.
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Updated the table for Signed trade agreements, expected to be in effect from 1 January 2021 to include Turkey, Vietnam, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Republic of Guyana.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Moldova Agreement.
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Updated to make it clear how agreements will come into force on 1 January 2021.
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Added links to the trade agreement documents for Kenya.
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Added links to the trade agreement documents for Singapore, Norway and Iceland.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Mexico Agreement.
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Added links to the Egypt trade agreement documents.
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Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Vietnam Agreement.
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Amended the progress on the agreement with Montenegro.
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Added links to the Canada and North Macedonia trade agreement documents.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Singapore Agreement.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Kenya EPA and Iceland-Norway-UK goods only agreement.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Egypt Association Agreement.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-North Macedonia agreement.
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Amended the progress on agreements with Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Updated the statistics for total UK trade with countries we have signed an agreement with using latest statistics.
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Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.
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Added links to the agreement documents for Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine.
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Kenya added to the list of countries where trade agreements have been signed and East African Community (EAC) removed from the list of countries where trade agreements are still in discussion.
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Côte d’Ivoire Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
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Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Ukraine agreement.
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'Trade agreements that have been signed' table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics
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Updated to reflect ongoing trade discussions with Turkey and Vietnam
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Updated the total UK trade statistics to correct an error.
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Updated 'Trade agreements that have been signed’ table after publication of the Office for National Statistics' UK trade statistics.
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Updated as the EU has notified those countries with which it has trade agreements that EU trade agreements can continue to apply to the UK during the transition period.
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First published.
Update history
2022-08-05 09:59
Entry into force mechanism for Kenya changed to full ratification from bridging mechanism.
2022-07-11 13:31
Colombia entry into effect mechanism changed to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Andean agreement.
2022-05-05 11:37
Total trade values for all countries updated with latest statistics.
2022-03-31 00:15
Samoa and Solomon Islands: ‘entry into effect mechanism’ changed to ‘Provisional application’ following accession to UK-Pacific economic partnership agreement (EPA).
2022-02-18 15:34
Update of total UK trade with statistics.
2022-02-07 16:49
Added Greenland to trade agreements still in discussion table.
2021-12-09 14:28
Updated link for Norway to go to UK-Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein free trade agreement collection page.
2021-11-23 09:42
Total trade value for each country or trading bloc updated to 2020 statistics.
2021-06-01 19:00
Mexico moved into 'Trade agreements in effect' section following full ratification of agreement.
2021-03-09 17:30
Removed the agreement in principle for Cameroon because the agreement is now signed.
2021-03-05 13:59
Updated to reflect the entry into effect of the Ghana-UK EPA.
2021-03-02 16:38
Updated to reflect the signing of the Ghana-UK EPA.
2021-02-12 12:32
Update to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Egypt and UK-Singapore agreements.
2021-02-08 16:32
Trade agreements that took effect from 1 January 2021' table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics.
2021-02-05 17:14
Moved Albania from 'under discussion' to 'signed but not in effect' table. Also updated the St. Kitts and Nevis entry as they have now ratified the CARIFORUM agreement.
2020-10-08 13:45
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Ukraine agreement.
2020-08-06 16:10
'Trade agreements that have been signed' table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics
2020-06-29 10:59
Updated to reflect ongoing trade discussions with Turkey and Vietnam
2020-05-15 14:44
Updated the total UK trade statistics to correct an error.
2020-05-04 12:11
Updated 'Trade agreements that have been signed' table after publication of the Office for National Statistics' UK trade statistics.
2020-02-04 13:26
Updated as the EU has notified those countries with which it has trade agreements that EU trade agreements can continue to apply to the UK during the transition period.
2020-01-29 11:08
First published.