Trade policy

This page is dedicated to UK trade policy, including the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme and upcoming sustainability regulations impacting trade. It displays our positions on FTA negotiations and guidance on signed FTAs.

Overview of the status of UK trade negotiations

We have produced a paper for FDF members that provides a comprehensive overview of the status of UK trade negotiations and concluded preferential trade agreements. It is regularly updated to reflect latest developments and key announcements from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and includes links to:

• Official information on negotiations including legal texts and announcements; and
• FDF position papers, explainers and guidance.

FDF's preferential trade tracker

We are continually engaging with government on trade policy, please see below a summary of feedback requests we need from members.

Trade feedback requests

UK trade agreements in negotiation

Gulf Cooperation Council: live negotiations

Status: Negotiations with the GCC are at a late stage, with the majority of chapters closed under the previous government, these could be reopened but not confirmed yet. We expect a deal in principle soon.

Trade with the GCC: Exports to the GCC in 2023 totalled £811.1 million, down 6.8% from 2022. Top products exported included breakfast cereals, chocolate and sweet biscuits. Imports from the GCC totalled £51.2 million in 2023, up 24.3% from 2022. Top import products included oils, fruits, and pulses.

FDF priorities for trade with the GCC

FDF specific priorities for food and drink

Webinar on exploring emerging markets (UAE)

India: live negotiations

Status: Negotiations with India are at a late stage, with the majority of chapters closed under the previous government, these could be reopened but not confirmed yet. We expect a deal in principle soon.

Trade with India: Exports to India in 2023 totalled £256.2 million, down 18.9% from 2022. Top products exported included breakfast cereals, chocolate and spices. Imports from India totalled £837.6 million in 2023, up 6.4% from 2022. Top import products included brown rice, shellfish, and spices.

FDF priorities for trade with India

South Korea FTA: in force but will be renegotiated

Status: The UK and South Korea are re-negotiating the rollover agreemnet which came into force in 2021. There have been two rounds so far. The UK has secured an extension to EU cumulation rules with South Korea, meaning EU inputs will be considered of UK origin. This extension is until 31 December 2025.

Trade with South Korea: Exports to South Korea in 2023 totalled £248.2million, down 2.3% from 2022. Top products exported included shellfish, pork and malt extracts. Imports from South Korea totalled £94.6 million in 2023, down 6.8% from 2022. Top import products included pasta, fish, and prepared fruit and vegetables.

FDF priorities for trade with South Korea

Switzerland FTA: in force and being renegotiated

Status: The UK and Switzerland are re-negotiating the rollover agreement which came into force in 2021.

Information on the latest round

Trade with Switzerland: Exports to Switzerland in 2023 totalled £145.1 million, down 4.7% from 2022. Top products exported included wheat, cheese and breakfast cereals. Imports from Switzerland totalled £471.4 million in 2023, up 4.7% from 2022. Top import products included coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate.

FDF Switzerland trade priorities

Turkey FTA: in force but will be renegotiated

Status: The UK and Turkey are re-negotiating the rollover agreement which came into force in 2021. Negotiations were launched in March, with the first round of negotiations yet to take place.

Trade with Turkey: Exports to Turkey in 2023 totalled £236.2 million, down 20.3% from 2022. Top products exported included eggs, sauces and chocolate. Imports from Turkey totalled £763.7 million in 2023, up 24.3% from 2022. Top import products included fruits, fish, and confectionery.

FDF priorities for trade with Turkey

Trade agreements in force/pending

Australia: in force

The UK and Australia signed a preferential trade agreement on 17 December 2021 and this entered into force on Wednesday 31 May 2023.

UK government has published guidance on this agreement and trade with Australia.

We produced a document for FDF members that sets out key provisions in this agreement.

Overview of UK-Australia FTA

CPTPP: In force

Status: The UK has now joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific partnership (CPTPP) on 15 December 2024.

Nine members of CPTPP have now ratified UK accession (Malaysia, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Australia, Brunei and Vietnam). The UK will not be able to trade under CPTPP to countries who have not yet ratified the UK accession until 60 days after they ratify (Mexico and Canada).

FDF member guidance

FDF overview of key points in CPTPP

CPTPP export guides

New trade opportunities in Malaysia

FDF guidance on CPTPP rules of origin

UK tariff schedule 

Exporting non-alcoholic beverages export guide (Mexico, Chile, Peru)

European Union: in force

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is a free trade agreement between the UK and the European Union that was signed and published on 30 December 2020. The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.

We produced a paper for FDF members that sets out key points in this agreement for food and drink manufacturers.

FDF overview of key points in the TCA

With an upcoming TCA review, the FDF has put together a paper outlining priorities for the food and drink sector. Members can access this below, please send any views to George.hyde@fdf.org.uk

UK-EU priorities

If you trade with the EU and want to avoid payment of tariffs, you need to ensure your goods comply with the TCA's rules of origin. These are the detailed terms and conditions that goods must meet to demonstrate the product’s ‘economic origin’ to allow it to be traded tariff-free.

We produced guidance for FDF members to help them in navigating the TCA rules of origin when exporting to or importing from the EU.

FDF guidance on TCA rules of origin

The UK is considering joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Convention. If the UK were to join PEM, our Rules of Origin provisions would be impacted. This would impact trade with all PEM nations, including the EU. We are collecting feedback from members, please get in touch if you have any views. Please find more information in the circular below, which gives a comparison between the TCA and PEM:

Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Convention Rules of Origin

New Zealand: in force

The UK and New Zealand signed a preferential trade agreement on 28 February 2022 and this entered into force on Wednesday 31 May 2023.

UK government is has published sector-specific guidance on this agreement and trade with New Zealand.

We produced a document for FDF members that sets out key provisions in this agreement.

Overview of UK-New Zealand FTA

Developing Country Trading Scheme (DCTS): in force

The UK's new Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) entered into force at 00.01 on 19 June 2023, replacing the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP).

This new scheme unilaterally provides preferential access into the UK market for imports originating from developing countries. With entry into force, the government published a selection of new guidance for businesses.

We produced guidance for FDF members that sets out the key provisions contained in the DCTS, focusing on:

• what this means for tariffs and rules of origin for imports from qualifying countries;
• the process by which products graduate out of the scheme to face the full UK Global Tariff as sectors in recipient countries become globally competitive; and
• revisions to the conditionality required by some countries to benefit from the provisions.

FDF guidance on DCTS

Guidance

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM): addressing carbon leakage

A UK CBAM will be introduced in January 2027.

The FDF have responded to the latest CBAM consultation that ended on 13 June 2024. This consultation focused on the scope of products, carbon measurement, documentation and administrative burdens, minimum thresholds, and penalties for non-compliance. Members can view a copy of our response below as well as the most recent updates to the policy.

Key documents we have published to help FDF members are:

Latest CBAM updates

FDF response to CBAM consultation

UK and EU initiatives to deliver deforestation-free supply chains

In May 2023, the EU passed a regulation to establish deforestation-free supply chains which will apply to a range of commodities when imported into the EU. The EU Commission has passed a 12 month delay to implementation, meaning the EUDR will come into effect from December 2025. Please see the latest guidance below:

EUDR guidance

EUDR FAQs

The UK is developing its own policy, which aims to deliver the same outcomes but will place different requirements on businesses.

We produced a paper for FDF members that outlines the EU regulation and upcoming UK regulation proposal and summarises key points of difference.

UK and EU initiatives to tackle deforestation

Join Fera on 18 February for an informative webinar exploring the critical role of testing and dataset creation in achieving compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Navigating the EUDR webinar