Article from OurEU.UK Publication date: 2018-08-09 Title: A List of Countries the U.K. has Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trading Agreements with as a member of the E.U. Subtitle: 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! Author: The British Umpire 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