Change description : 2021-12-09 14:28:00: Updated link for Norway to go to UK-Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein free trade agreement collection page. [Brexit]
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 in effect
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 (£ million) (2)
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.
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.
Trade agreements still in discussion
The following agreements are still under discussion with countries where trading agreements were in place before 1 January 2021.
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 are not members of the World Trade Organization.
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’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.
Published 29 January 2020
Last updated 239 NovemberDecember 2021
+ show all updates
Updated link for Norway to go to UK-Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein free trade agreement collection page.
Total trade value for each country or trading bloc updated to 2020 statistics.
Cameroon changed to full ratification.
Mexico moved into 'Trade agreements in effect' section following full ratification of agreement.
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.
22 April 2021
Updated because Suriname is now covered by the CARIFORUM States economic partnership agreement.
22 April 2021
Links updated to reflect the interim trade partnership agreement with Ghana and interim economic partnership agreement with Cameroon.
9 March 2021
Removed the agreement in principle for Cameroon because the agreement is now signed.
5 March 2021
Updated to reflect the entry into effect of the Ghana-UK EPA.
2 March 2021
Updated to reflect the signing of the Ghana-UK EPA.
12 February 2021
Update to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Egypt and UK-Singapore agreements.
8 February 2021
Trade agreements that took effect from 1 January 2021’ table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics.
5 February 2021
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.
14 January 2021
Updated to reflect the full ratification of the UK-Andean agreement with Peru.
31 December 2020
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.
30 December 2020
Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Cameroon Agreement.
29 December 2020
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.
24 December 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Moldova Agreement.
23 December 2020
Updated to make it clear how agreements will come into force on 1 January 2021.
18 December 2020
Added links to the trade agreement documents for Kenya.
16 December 2020
Added links to the trade agreement documents for Singapore, Norway and Iceland.
15 December 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Mexico Agreement.
14 December 2020
Added links to the Egypt trade agreement documents.
11 December 2020
Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Vietnam Agreement.
11 December 2020
Amended the progress on the agreement with Montenegro.
10 December 2020
Added links to the Canada and North Macedonia trade agreement documents.
10 December 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Singapore Agreement.
9 December 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.
8 December 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Kenya EPA and Iceland-Norway-UK goods only agreement.
7 December 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Egypt Association Agreement.
3 December 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-North Macedonia agreement.
25 November 2020
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.
23 November 2020
Updated to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.
11 November 2020
Added links to the agreement documents for Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine.
3 November 2020
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.
28 October 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
15 October 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Côte d’Ivoire Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
8 October 2020
Updated to reflect the signing of the UK-Ukraine agreement.
6 August 2020
'Trade agreements that have been signed' table updated with the most recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics
29 June 2020
Updated to reflect ongoing trade discussions with Turkey and Vietnam
15 May 2020
Updated the total UK trade statistics to correct an error.
4 May 2020
Updated 'Trade agreements that have been signed’ table after publication of the Office for National Statistics' UK trade statistics.
4 February 2020
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.