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Welcome to UK Trade Policy ObservatoryRead our latest briefing papersSee recent updates on our blog page

Publications

In addition to our Briefing Paper and blog series, the Observatory also produces various other written materials.

Latest Briefing Papers

Our Briefing Papers provide a unique analysis of various elements of trade policy in the post-Brexit era.

Special Reports

Our Special Reports provide an in-depth analysis of specific elements of trade policy.

Trade policy animated videos

Our animated videos help to explain the effects of trade policy. This video explains direct and indirect ways of trading services internationally, and looks at the implications for trade policy, particularly trade agreements.

For more trade explainers, visit our animations page.

Briefing Paper 62 – THE IMPACT OF A NEW CUSTOMS AND REGULATORY BORDER WITH THE EU FOR UK COMPANIES TRADING GOODS

Leaving the EU has led to the creation of a new customs and regulatory border between the UK and the EU making it more difficult and more expensive to trade with the EU. However, the impact of Brexit on UK importers and exporters is not homogenous. This Briefing Paper identifies the factors and considerations that determine which companies are impacted, and thus why some might choose to cease to trade, while others experience no change in their trade with the EU. As more border formalities and checks are introduced, UK importers are yet to feel the full scale of the impact. As a result, issues are only going to become more widespread and deepen and new ways of responding and dealing with them are still to emerge. Read Briefing Paper 62: THE IMPACT OF A NEW CUSTOMS AND REGULATORY BORDER WITH THE EU FOR UK COMPANIES TRADING GOODS

By |1 October 2021|Categories: Briefing Papers|Tags: |0 Comments

Briefing Paper 63 – POST-BREXIT: TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES (II)

Since the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) came into force, firms trading with the EU have faced new costs as they learn to trade under new regulations and comply with customs formalities that were otherwise not present. In this Briefing Paper, we provide an analysis of UK monthly trade data to assess how UK goods trade has performed in the period January-July 2021. We also expand our analysis on preference utilization rates (PURs), which depict the extent to which UK exports to the EU have benefited from the tariff-free treatment agreed in the TCA as well as examining the impact of the TCA on trade in services in the first two quarters of 2021. Our analysis shows that the introduction of the TCA reduced trade between the UK and the EU, but this is not homogenous across sectors, although, whilst exports took a knock in January and have since recovered, the impact on imports has persisted. Furthermore, despite the zero-tariff, zero-quota trade agreement of the TCA, firms end up paying tariffs to avoid the bureaucratic costs of claiming zero tariff. The foregone duty saving amounts to £534.6 million. Read Briefing Paper 63: POST-BREXIT: TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES (II)

By , , |1 November 2021|Categories: Briefing Papers|Tags: |0 Comments

Briefing Paper 64 – UK POLICY ON CARBON LEAKAGE

The idea of introducing a Border Carbon Adjustment has been raised by various countries and major trading partners of the UK, most notably the EU, with its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. This Briefing Paper seeks to address the possible implications of a border carbon adjustment mechanism for the UK. We examine the potential impact on specific industries and consider implications of cooperation with the EU on ETS schemes and BCAs, the pros and cons to the UK of applying such a new type of policy tool and for maintaining trade, investment and job stability in the UK, and with trading partners, and the extent to which it might counter the problem of carbon leakage. Read Briefing Paper 64: UK POLICY ON CARBON LEAKAGE

By , , |1 December 2021|Categories: Briefing Papers|Tags: |0 Comments
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