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UK-EU Trade Cooperation

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and HM Treasury are negotiating further trade cooperation with the EU to reduce barriers beyond the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Priority areas include regulatory alignment on chemicals and pharmaceuticals, VAT and customs simplification, professional qualifications mutual recognition, and addressing non-tariff barriers affecting UK-EU trade.

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2026

6 events
4 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

The Common Understanding agreed with the EU is one of the key outcomes of the Government’s “reset” efforts to date. As and when delivered fully, it should significantly reduce barriers to trade for some sectors, albeit resulting in reduced UK regulatory autonomy due to the commitment to dynamic alignment with EU law. It should also improve cooperation in areas like irregular migration, although it is vague on specific outcomes in that area making scrutiny of progress difficult. (Conclusion, P...

The Common Understanding agreed with the EU is one of the key outcomes of the Government’s “reset” efforts to date. As and when delivered fully, it should significantly reduce barriers to trade for some sectors, albeit resulting in reduced UK …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
4 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

Business mobility is crucial to the UK services industry, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications is one area where the Trade and Cooperation Agreement offers a clear mechanism for progress. We hope the Government and EU will use the new Dialogue to establish no later than the next UK-EU summit a shared roadmap for formalising mutual recognition of professional qualifications for priority sectors, such as architects. We also note the EU’s well-established concerns around the UK’...

Business mobility is crucial to the UK services industry, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications is one area where the Trade and Cooperation Agreement offers a clear mechanism for progress. We hope the Government and EU will use the new …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
4 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

On the balance of the evidence available, we can see that trade barriers with the EU continue to be a major issue for many sectors. We support Government efforts to explore what further opportunities exist for reducing them jointly with the EU. It is unfortunate that statements made in recent months by different Ministers about both the “damage” done by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and their ambitions for the future of the economic relationship with the EU through further alignment la...

On the balance of the evidence available, we can see that trade barriers with the EU continue to be a major issue for many sectors. We support Government efforts to explore what further opportunities exist for reducing them jointly with …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
4 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

With both the Chancellor and the Prime Minister now referring consistently to the economic “damage” resulting from the nature of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), we ask the Government to set out its views on which elements of the existing TCA are the source of such “damage”; confirm, as Ministerial statements suggest, that it is of the view that the current set of negotiating priorities with the EU are not sufficient to address them; and, if this is so, set out what further pr...

With both the Chancellor and the Prime Minister now referring consistently to the economic “damage” resulting from the nature of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), we ask the Government to set out its views on which elements of …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
4 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

The evidence submitted to this inquiry shows there are a range of further pragmatic steps that the UK and EU can explore together with the aim of improving their trading relationship, strengthening their combined resilience in the face of global economic shocks and also further reducing barriers to intra-UK trade as a result of the Windsor Framework. (Conclusion, Paragraph 179)

The evidence submitted to this inquiry shows there are a range of further pragmatic steps that the UK and EU can explore together with the aim of improving their trading relationship, strengthening their combined resilience in the face of global …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
4 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

We ask the Government to set out, in its reply to this Report, what options it has raised, or intends to raise, with the European Union to further reduce barriers to trade and investment in the following areas: • Regulatory non-tariff barriers to trade in goods, in particular for chemicals and pharmaceuticals, as well as measures to reduce the impact of VAT and customs formalities for trade with the EU; • UK accession to the Lugano Convention to improve cross-border recognition of commercial ...

We ask the Government to set out, in its reply to this Report, what options it has raised, or intends to raise, with the European Union to further reduce barriers to trade and investment in the following areas: • Regulatory …

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2025

4 events
15 May 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government should consult with industry on rejoining the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin as an alternative to the rules of origin arrangements agreed in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. (Recommendation, Paragraph 49)

The Government should consult with industry on rejoining the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin as an alternative to the rules of origin arrangements agreed in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. (Recommendation, Paragraph 49) Type: recommendation | Number:

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15 May 2025 | Committee report linked

Energy trade represents a major opportunity for enhanced UK-EU trade and cooperation. Given shared strategic objectives—reducing carbon emissions, improving energy security, and expanding renewables—both sides have a mutual interest in strengthening their partnership. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64) 46

Energy trade represents a major opportunity for enhanced UK-EU trade and cooperation. Given shared strategic objectives—reducing carbon emissions, improving energy security, and expanding renewables—both sides have a mutual interest in strengthening their partnership. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64) 46

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2024

1 event

2022

5 events
25 Nov 2022 | Policy paper HM Treasury linked

Minutes of the Trade Specialised Committee on VAT Administrative Cooperation and Recovery of Taxes: 6 October 2022

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and EU established official-level Specialised Committees to monitor the implementation of the TCA. The Trade Specialised Committee on VAT Administrative Cooperation and Recovery of Taxes met for the second time on …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Minutes of the Trade Specialised Committee on V… (4pp)
25 Oct 2022 | Committee report linked

Additional compliance costs will be incurred by businesses that trade in both the EU and the UK, assuming some degree of regulatory divergence over time. We therefore call on the CMA to conduct a short economic analysis, to be sent to this Committee no later than September 2024, assessing the cost to business of trading in both the EU and the UK and its impact on competition.

Additional compliance costs will be incurred by businesses that trade in both the EU and the UK, assuming some degree of regulatory divergence over time. We therefore call on the CMA to conduct a short economic analysis, to be sent …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
12 Oct 2022 | Committee report linked

CMA stated that “there is some benefit, particularly for business certainty, in there being consistency as between the UK and the EU.”46 This applies more widely than just in the area of competition and consumer protection, although the overall impact of divergence on trade with the EU is not yet clear. FSA suggested that a UK producer of cannabidiol (CBD) products may not be able to sell them in the EU when the EU has completed its own risk assessments. FSA also acknowledged a potential risk...

CMA stated that “there is some benefit, particularly for business certainty, in there being consistency as between the UK and the EU.”46 This applies more widely than just in the area of competition and consumer protection, although the overall impact …

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13 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

Brexit has not been a major focus of this particular inquiry. Nonetheless, it will clearly have a profound impact on the economy’s future direction and growth prospects, potentially greater than the long-term effect of the pandemic. In its response to this report, the Treasury should explain how growth policy is identifying and helping those sectors most adversely affected by changes in trade between the UK and EU, as well as more clearly identifying the economic opportunities that may arise ...

Brexit has not been a major focus of this particular inquiry. Nonetheless, it will clearly have a profound impact on the economy’s future direction and growth prospects, potentially greater than the long-term effect of the pandemic. In its response to …

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9 Feb 2022 | Committee report linked

The new controls in place over the movement of goods from the UK to the EU have created additional costs for businesses and affected international trade flows. It is not yet clear to what extent the declines in UK trade with the EU since the end of the transition period have been caused by EU exit, or by the COVID-19 pandemic. What is clear is that UK businesses face additional administration and cost when trading with the EU. For example, traders may have to pay an intermediary to help them ...

The new controls in place over the movement of goods from the UK to the EU have created additional costs for businesses and affected international trade flows. It is not yet clear to what extent the declines in UK trade …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2021

4 events
26 Nov 2021 | Policy paper HM Treasury linked

Minutes of the Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin: 7 October 2021

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and EU established working-level Specialised Committees to monitor the implementation of the TCA. The Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin met for the first time on 7 …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperat… (4pp)
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30 Sep 2021 | Committee report linked

We are concerned that the UK’s reduced access to European health networks could undermine the UK and European response to future disease outbreaks. We recommend that the Government builds structured permanent cooperation with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In its response to this report, the FCDO should set out its assessment of how its new ad hoc access to the Early Warning Response System affects global health security; whether and on what terms it sought to ...

We are concerned that the UK’s reduced access to European health networks could undermine the UK and European response to future disease outbreaks. We recommend that the Government builds structured permanent cooperation with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and …

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28 Apr 2021 | Committee report linked

Patterns of behaviour by smugglers and organised crime gangs on the island of Ireland have not changed significantly following the end of the transition period, but there is no room for complacency. We therefore welcome law enforcement and crime agencies’ assurance that the high level of cross-border operational capability has been retained through replacement co-operation mechanisms agreed in the Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

Patterns of behaviour by smugglers and organised crime gangs on the island of Ireland have not changed significantly following the end of the transition period, but there is no room for complacency. We therefore welcome law enforcement and crime agencies’ …

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2020

3 events
11 Dec 2020 | Committee report linked

Trade is a reserved policy competence and it is the role of UK Government to lead on negotiations over future trade agreements. Depending on how deep their provisions, new trade agreements may have direct implications for devolved policy areas. The devolved administrations therefore should be routinely consulted in the development of UK-wide trade strategies.

Trade is a reserved policy competence and it is the role of UK Government to lead on negotiations over future trade agreements. Depending on how deep their provisions, new trade agreements may have direct implications for devolved policy areas. The …

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11 Dec 2020 | Committee report linked

We welcome the establishment of the Ministerial Forum for Trade in 2020 as a mechanism for cooperation between UK Government and the devolved administrations. It is important that key Welsh interests are fully considered in trade talks. (Paragraph 24) Future trade relations with the EU

We welcome the establishment of the Ministerial Forum for Trade in 2020 as a mechanism for cooperation between UK Government and the devolved administrations. It is important that key Welsh interests are fully considered in trade talks. (Paragraph 24) Future …

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11 Dec 2020 | Committee report linked

The UK Government must redouble its efforts to work with business and port operators to provide confidence that the necessary systems and infrastructure will be in place, fully tested and functioning well in advance of July 2021. The UK Government should Brexit and trade: implications for Wales 41 also maintain an ongoing dialogue with the EU, post January 2021, to monitor the impact of new processes and, where possible, work to ensure as frictionless trade as possible.

The UK Government must redouble its efforts to work with business and port operators to provide confidence that the necessary systems and infrastructure will be in place, fully tested and functioning well in advance of July 2021. The UK Government …

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