United Kingdom free trade agreements update

Following its withdrawal from the EU in 2020 after 47 years of membership, the UK started to negotiate treaties around the world.

These treaties are divided into two types of free trade agreements: continuity agreements and ‘new’ agreements. Continuity agreements, also named rollover agreements, to quickly replicate the existing EU agreements. Those negotiated after Brexit are termed ‘new’, these agreements have been negotiated from scratch or have been renegotiated to enhance the deal since Brexit.

As of May 2023, the United Kingdom has 38 active free trade agreements with nations and trade blocs, covering 99 countries and territories. Five of these are ‘new’ trade agreements, such as with Australia and New Zealand. The remaining 33 are continuity agreements. Furthermore, the UK has a customs union with its three Crown Dependencies and further arrangements covering free trade with its 14 British Overseas Territories.

In addition, the UK has also reached an agreement as above to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which it signed in July 2023.

As of May 2023, the United Kingdom has 38 active free trade agreements with nations and trade blocs, covering 99 countries and territories.