The British Umpire - 09/08/2018
A List of Countries the U.K. has Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trading Agreements with as a member of the E.U.
A List of Countries the U.K. has Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trading Agreements with as a member of the E.U.
Next time somebody is trying to tell you that remaining in the EU is an insular way of seeing things and that leaving the EU somehow allows us to ‘make our own trade deals and trade with the rest of the world’, you might like to show them this list of trade deals we have right now as a member of the EU team.
Of course, these are on top of the 27 free-trade deals we have with our EU partners and 4 free-trade deals we have with our EFTA colleagues (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein & Switzerland).
All deals that the U.K. negotiated from a position of strength over 45 years within the world’s most powerful trade negotiation team, the EU, and that’s according to the US team.
In trade negotiations, a very important part of your negotiation stance is the size of the market you can offer access to. The EU can name its price regarding safety, security and processes required by importers by in turn offering them access to a market of 512 million developed consumers for complying.
Outside the EU, the U.K. will only be able to offer 65 million consumers, and that immediately gives us a much weaker hand in getting the standards we require. Foreign importers will simply be prepared to offer less for access to a smaller market.
Less desire to trade with the U.K. means a lower need for Sterling and therefore the pound loses value, making foreign imports more expensive for British consumers to buy. Many foodstuffs, goods and services cannot be made or grown here, so we must pay more, or do without.
The question isn’t about the UK getting ‘a deal’, it’s more to do with what those deals are like and how long the U.K. must sell and trade at a significant disadvantage whilst those inferior trade deals come into effect.
Of course, after Brexit, the UK will be in direct competition with the powerful union of the EU and its firms. Since we are no longer a partner, they, and corporations all over the world, will be keen to seize our sales and market share, especially while we are so vulnerable.
Nor are all trade deals the same. The simpler ones, worth less, or which see the U.K. desperate and somewhat over-a-barrel are quick, usually taking 2-3 years. The more valuable ones worth more take about a decade.
The EU’s trade deal with Canada (CETA) took 8 years, was goods only and required a Canadian trade negotiation team of 864 negotiators. The U.K. has less that 20 negotiators in total to negotiate goods and services deals with some 217 nations and territories across the world, and very little time to waste.
The EU on the other hand has been building trade relationships since 1957, and we have been a part of this since 1973, some 45 years which has seen us deeply involved with our partners in building smoother supply chains, greater speed and security, higher levels of safety and more streamlined bureaucracy in all aspects of our global trade.
Nor do ‘they need a deal with us as much as we need a deal with them’. The U.K. market accounts for only 2-3% of the EU 27’s global sales, whereas the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement just signed accounts for one-third of all global GDP.
Types of EU trade agreement
There are three main types of agreements:
Customs Unions
These eliminate customs duties in bilateral trade and establish a joint customs tariff for foreign importers
Association Agreements, Stabilisation Agreements, (Deep and Comprehensive) Free Trade Agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements
These remove or reduce customs tariffs in bilateral trade.
Partnership and Cooperation Agreements
These provide a general framework for bilateral economic relations, but leave customs tariffs as they are.
EU Agreements in Place:
Albania (Western Balkans)
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
In force since 2009
Algeria
Association Agreement
In force since 01/09/2005
Andorra
Customs Union
In force since 01/01/1991
Armenia
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
In force since 09/09/1999
Azerbaijan
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
In force since 1999
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Western Balkans)
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
In force since 01/06/2015
Botswana (SADC)
Economic Partnership Agreement
In force since 05/02/2018
Chile
Association Agreement and Additional Protocol
In force since 01/03/2005
Egypt
Association Agreement
In force since 01/06/2004
Faroe Islands
Agreement
In force since 01/01/1997
Georgia
Association Agreement
In force since 01/07/2016
Iceland
Economic Area Agreement
In force since 1994
Israel
Association Agreement
In force since 01/06/2000
Jordan
Association Agreement
In force since 01/05/2002
Kosovo (UNSCR 1244)
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
In force since 01/04/2016
Lebanon
Association Agreement
In force since 01/04/2006
Lesotho (SADC)
Economic Partnership Agreement
In force since 05/02/2018
Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of (Western Balkans)
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
In force since 01/04/2004
Mexico
Global Agreement
In force since 01/10/2000
Moldova
Association Agreement
In force since 01/07/2016
Montenegro (Western Balkans)
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
In force since 01/05/2010
Morocco
Association Agreement
In force since 01/03/2000
Mozambique (SADC)
Economic Partnership Agreement
In force since 05/02/2018
Namibia (SADC)
Economic Partnership Agreement
In force since 05/02/2018
Norway
Economic Area Agreement
In force since 1994
Palestinian Authority
Interim Association Agreement
In force since 01/07/1997
Russia
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
In force since 01/12/1997
San Marino
Customs Union
In force since 01/04/2002
Serbia (Western Balkans)
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
In force since 01/09/2013
South Africa
Economic Partnership Agreement
In force since 05/02/2018
South Korea
Free Trade Agreement
In force since 01/07/2016
Swaziland (SADC)
Economic Partnership Agreement
In force since 05/02/2018
Switzerland
Agreement
In force since 01/01/1973
Syria
Co-operation Agreement
In force since 01/07/1977
Tunisia
Association Agreement
In force since 01/03/1998
Turkey
Customs Union
In force since 31/12/1995
EU Agreements Partly in Place:
These are countries and regions that have part (but not all) of their agreements in place with the EU. The agreement is fully applied when all parties have ratified the agreement.
Antigua and Barbuda (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Armenia
Updated Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
Provisionally applied since 06/2018
Bahamas (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Barbados (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Belize (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Botswana (SADC)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 10/10/2016
Cameroon (Central Africa)
Interim Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2014
Canada
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Signed 30 October 2016, provisionally applied since 21/09/2017
Colombia (with Ecuador and Peru)
Trade Agreement
Signed 26/07/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 03/09/2016
Comoros (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, not yet provisionally applied
Costa Rica (Central America)
Association Agreement with a strong trade component
Signed 29/06/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
Cuba
Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement
Provisionally applied since 1/11/2017
Dominica (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Djibouti (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, not yet provisionally applied
Dominican Republic (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Ecuador (with Colombia and Peru)
Trade Agreement
Signed 26/07/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
El Salvador (Central America)
Association Agreement with a strong trade component
Signed 29/06/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
Eritrea (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, not yet provisionally applied
Ethiopia (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, not yet provisionally applied
Fiji (with Papua New Guinea)
Interim Partnership Agreement
Ratified by Papua New Guinea in May 2011
Ghana (West Africa)
Stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreement provisionally applied
Provisionally applied since 15/12/2016
Grenada (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Guatemala (Central America)
Association Agreement with a strong trade component
Signed 29/06/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
Guyana (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Haiti (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Haitian ratification still pending
Honduras (Central America)
Association Agreement with a strong trade component
Signed 29/06/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
Jamaica (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Kazakhstan
Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
Provisionally applied since 01/05/2016
Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Zimbabwe (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, provisionally applied since 2012
Papua New Guinea and Fiji
Interim Partnership Agreement
Ratified by Papua New Guinea in May 2011
Namibia (SADC)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 10/10/2016
Nicaragua (Central America)
Association Agreement with a strong trade component
Signed 29/06/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
Panama (Central America)
Association Agreement with a strong trade component
Signed 29/06/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
Papua New Guinea (with Fiji)
Interim Partnership Agreement
Ratified by Papua New Guinea in May 2011
Madagascar (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, provisionally applied since 06/2011
Peru (with Colombia and Ecuador)
Trade Agreement Signed 26/07/2012, provisionally applied since 2013
South Africa
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 10/10/2016
St Kitts and Nevis (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
St Lucia (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
St Vincent and the Grenadines (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Sudan (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, not provisionally applied yet
Suriname (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Trinidad and Tobago (CARIFORUM)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Provisionally applied since 2008
Ukraine
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
Associate Agreement Signed 29/05/2014, provisionally applied since 01/01/2016
Zambia (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement
Signed 08/2009, not provisionally applied yet
Agreements Pending:
In some circumstances trade negotiations with a trade partner have been concluded, but have not been either signed or ratified yet. This means that although the negotiations have finished, no part of the agreement is in place yet.
Burundi (EAC)
Economic partnership Agreement
Has not signed or ratified agreement
Japan
Economic partnership Agreement
Negotiations started 01/03/2013, concluded December 2017, awaiting signature
Kenya (EAC)
Economic partnership Agreement
Signed and ratified, provisional application when all EAC countries sign and ratify
Rwanda (EAC)
Economic partnership Agreement
Signed, provisional application when all EAC countries sign and ratify
Singapore
Free Trade Agreement
Subject to CJEU opinion 2/15, awaiting signature
Tanzania (EAC)
Economic partnership Agreement
Has not signed or ratified agreement
Uganda (EAC)
Economic partnership Agreement
Has not signed or ratified agreement
Vietnam
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations concluded December 2016, expected to enter into force in 2018
Agreements Being Updated:
The EU has trade agreements in place with these countries/regions, but both sides are now negotiating an update
Azerbaijan
Update of Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
Negotiations began February 2017
Chile
Modernise trade part of Association Agreement
Negotiations began 16/11/2017
Mexico
Modernisation of Global Agreement
‘Agreement in principle’ on the trade part reached in April 2018
Morocco
Update of Association Agreement to create a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
Negotiations began 01/03/2013, on hold since April 2014
Tunisia
Update of Association Agreement to create a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
Negotiations began 12/10/2013
Agreements Being Negotiated:
Agreements currently under negotiation
Argentina (Mercosur)
Mercosur Association Agreement
Negotiations resumed May 2010
Australia
Australia Agreement
Negotiations launched in June 2018
Bahrain (GCC)
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 1990, suspended since 2008
Brazil (Mercosur)
Mercosur Association Agreement
Negotiations resumed May 2010
China
EU-China investment agreement
Negotiations started 21/11/2013
India
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 2007, last round in 2013
Indonesia
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 01/09/2016
Kuwait (GCC)
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 1990, suspended since 2008
Malaysia
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started October 2010, paused since April 2012
Myanmar
Investment protection agreement
Negotiations started 2015
New Zealand
New Zealand Agreement
Negotiations launched in June 2018
Oman (GCC)
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 1990, suspended since 2008
Paraguay (Mercosur)
Mercosur Association Agreement
Negotiations resumed May 2010
Philippines
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 01/12/2015
Qatar (GCC)
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 1990, suspended since 2008
Saudi Arabia (GCC)
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 1990, suspended since 2008
Thailand
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 01/03/2013, no negotiations scheduled since 2014
United Arab Emirates (GCC)
Free Trade Agreement
Negotiations started 1990, suspended since 2008
United States of America
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Negotiations started 2013, paused until further notice 2016
Uruguay (Mercosur)
Mercosur Association Agreement
Negotiations resumed May 2010
Venezuela
Mercosur Free Trade Agreement
Suspended as Mercosur Member
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