- The UK currently has FTAs with over 70 countries in addition to the Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA) reached with the EU. In most cases, FTAs seek to maintain continuity of pre-Brexit trade with third countries.
- Several of these FTAs include clauses requiring the agreement to be re-negotiated. Negotiations are underway with Switzerland, Turkey and South Korea. The government has signalled it will continue with these negotiations.
- In May 2025, the UK and India have concluded a free trade agreement (FTA), under which India will cut tariff rates on 90% of tariff lines and the UK will eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian goods.
- Negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council on an FTA commenced in 2022 and are expected to be complete in 2026.
- The UK and US announced an outline ‘Economic Prosperity Deal’ (EPD) on tariffs and trade. The deal centres on product-specific tariff reduction, with full details yet to be published. The first tariff reductions for UK businesses applied to the automotive and aerospace sectors from 30 June 2025. In December 2025, as part of the EPD, the UK and US agreed a deal securing tariff-free treatment for UK pharmaceutical exports.
- The UK launched a new Trade Strategy in June 2025, outlining the government’s approach to strengthening trade defence, securing more agile trade agreements, expanding export finance and aligning trade policy with other strategic priorities.
- Timing: this is an area of continuing change and timescales are being determined for each negotiation. The UK-India FTA is expected to come into force in late 2025 or early 2026, following the completion of domestic ratification and implementation procedures.
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