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.

From:
Department for International Trade
PublishedPublished:
29 January 2020
Last updatedupdated:
19 JuneMarch 20212021, — Seesee all updates

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, 20202019 (£ million) (2)
AlbaniaAlbaniaFull ratification55
Andean countries Colombia Bridging mechanism 2,0182,507 (total for Andean countries)
Andean countries Ecuador Full ratification 2,0182,507 (total for Andean countries)
Andean countries Peru Full ratification 2,0182,507 (total for Andean countries)
CanadaCanadaFull ratification17,662
Cameroon Cameroon ProvisionalBridging applicationmechanism 163177
CARIFORUM trade bloc Antigua and Barbuda Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc BahamasBarbados Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc BarbadosSt. Kitts and Nevis Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Belize Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc DominicaBahamas Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc DominicanSaint RepublicLucia Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc GrenadaDominica Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc GuyanaProvisionalDominican applicationRepublic 2,897 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade blocJamaicaProvisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc St. Kitts and NevisGrenada Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc Saint LuciaJamaica Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc St. Vincent and the Grenadines Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc SurinameTrinidad and Tobago ProvisionalBridging applicationmechanism 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
CARIFORUM trade bloc TrinidadThe andRepublic Tobagoof Guyana Provisional application 2,8973,116 (total for CARIFORUM trade bloc)
Central America Costa Rica Full ratification 1,2631,314 (total for Central America)
Central America El Salvador Full ratification 1,2631,314 (total for Central America)
Central America Guatemala Full ratification 1,2631,314 (total for Central America)
Central America Honduras Full ratification 1,2631,314 (total for Central America)
Central America Nicaragua Full ratification 1,2631,314 (total for Central America)
Central America Panama Full ratification 1,2631,314 (total for Central America)
Chile Chile Full ratification 1,3602,098
Côte d’Ivoire Côte d’Ivoire Full ratification 501488
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc  Mauritius Full ratification 1,3771,560 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc  Seychelles Full ratification 1,3771,560 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) trade bloc  Zimbabwe Full ratification 1,3771,560 (total for Eastern and Southern Africa trade bloc)
Egypt   Egypt Full ratification 2,7423,331
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands Full ratification 503282
Georgia Georgia Full ratification 148174
Ghana Ghana Provisional application 8691,155
Iceland and Norway Iceland Provisional application 21,44126,975 (total for Iceland and Norway)
Iceland and Norway Norway Provisional application 21,44126,975 (total for Iceland and Norway)
Israel Israel Full ratification 4,8295,059
Japan Japan Full ratification 24,68729,182
JordanJordanFull ratification606
Kenya (3) Kenya Bridging mechanism 1,0141,369
Kosovo Kosovo Full ratification 1510
Lebanon Lebanon Full ratification 560829
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Full ratification 17383
MexicoMexicoFull ratification3,638
Moldova Moldova Provisional application 918254
Morocco Morocco Provisional application 1,4562,120
North Macedonia North Macedonia Provisional application 1,4431,770
Pacific states Fiji Provisional application 332273 (total for Pacific States)
Pacific states Papua New Guinea Provisional application 332273 (total for Pacific States)
Pacific states Samoa (4) Bridging mechanism 332273 (total for Pacific States)
Pacific states Solomon Islands (4) Bridging mechanism 332273 (total for Pacific States)
Palestinian Authority Palestinian Authority Full ratification 207
SerbiaSerbiaProvisional application614
Singapore Singapore Full ratification 14,09117,028
South Korea South Korea Full ratification 11,22411,940
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Botswana Full ratification 8,68910,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Eswatini Full ratification 8,68910,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Lesotho Full ratification 8,68910,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Mozambique Full ratification 8,68910,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc Namibia Full ratification 8,68910,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) trade bloc South Africa Full ratification 8,68910,788 (total for SACUM trade bloc)
Switzerland Switzerland Full ratification 33,97037,147
Tunisia Tunisia Full ratification 492651
Turkey Turkey Provisional application 15,08519,386
Ukraine Ukraine Full ratification 1,2861,633
Vietnam Vietnam Provisional application 4,8245,822

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 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.

AgreementInformation on entry into effect
AlbaniaExpected to enter into effect in early 2021. Trade takes place under WTO terms.
CanadaExpected to enter into effect in early 2021. Preferential tariff rates are being applied.
JordanExpected 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 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

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Published 29 January 2020
Last updated 19 JuneMarch 2021 + show all updates

  1. Mexico moved into 'Trade agreements in effect' section following full ratification of agreement.

  2. 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.

  3. Cameroon 'entry into effect mechanism' changed from bridging mechanism to provisional application.

  4. Updated because Suriname is now covered by the CARIFORUM States economic partnership agreement.

  5. Links updated to reflect the interim trade partnership agreement with Ghana and interim economic partnership agreement with Cameroon.

  6. Removed the agreement in principle for Cameroon because the agreement is now signed.

  7. Updated to reflect the entry into effect of the Ghana-UK EPA.

  8. Updated to reflect the signing of the Ghana-UK EPA.

  9. Update to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Egypt and UK-Singapore agreements.

  10. Trade agreements that took effect from 1 January 2021’ table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics.

  11. 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.

  12. Updated to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Andean agreement with Peru.

  13. 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.

  14. Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Cameroon Agreement.

  15. 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.

  16. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Moldova Agreement.

  17. Updated to make it clear how agreements will come into force on 1 January 2021.

  18. Added links to the trade agreement documents for Kenya.

  19. Added links to the trade agreement documents for Singapore, Norway and Iceland.

  20. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Mexico Agreement.

  21. Added links to the Egypt trade agreement documents.

  22. Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Vietnam Agreement.

  23. Amended the progress on the agreement with Montenegro.

  24. Added links to the Canada and North Macedonia trade agreement documents.

  25. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Singapore Agreement.

  26. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.

  27. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Kenya EPA and Iceland-Norway-UK goods only agreement.

  28. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Egypt Association Agreement.

  29. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-North Macedonia agreement.

  30. 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.

  31. Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.

  32. Added links to the agreement documents for Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine.

  33. 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.

  34. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

  35. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Côte d’Ivoire Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

  36. Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Ukraine agreement.

  37. 'Trade agreements that have been signed' table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics

  38. Updated to reflect ongoing trade discussions with Turkey and Vietnam

  39. Updated the total UK trade statistics to correct an error.

  40. Updated 'Trade agreements that have been signed’ table after publication of the Office for National Statistics' UK trade statistics.

  41. 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.

  42. First published.

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