On 21 February, 2019, the Department for International Trade (DIT) issued guidance entitled, Existing trade agreements if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, which sets out the status of those agreements (free trade agreements, economic partnership agreements, association agreements and customs union) that may not be in place by exit day. It also links to trade agreements that have been signed and mutual recognition agreements that have been signed.

The guidance notes:

This concerns guidance for a no deal scenario. Leaving the EU with a deal remains the government’s top priority. This has not changed. While a number of these continuity agreements are likely to be concluded by exit day, it is the duty of government to produce a highly cautious list of those that may not be in place in order that businesses and individuals ensure that they are prepared for every eventuality.

It remains our priority to conclude trade continuity agreements with these countries by exit day or as soon as possible thereafter. We are exploring a range of options to ensure continuity of effect for trade agreements if an agreement has not been ratified and brought into force in time for exit day.

The UK is working with partner countries to bring into force bilateral agreements that will ensure continuity for the effects of existing EU trade agreements. But all of these replacement agreements may not be ready in time for 29 March 2019 if we leave the EU without a deal.

You can find below details of countries concerned together with the status of discussions: (Column 4 shows UK trade with country(ies) as percentage of total UK trade, year to Q3 2018)

a) Trade Agreements

1. Agreement

2. Type of Agreement 3. Status of discussions aimed at replicating the effects of the agreement

4. UK trade

Albania (Western Balkans)

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.00%

Algeria

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing – It is unlikely that UK will reach an agreement prior to exit day.

0.19%

Andean (Colombia, Peru and Ecuador)  [partially in effect in EU}

Free Trade Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.18%

Bosnia & Herzegovina (Western Balkans)

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.01%

Cameroon  [partially in effect in EU} (Central Africa)

Economic Partnership Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.01%

Canada [partially in effect in EU}

Free Trade Agreement

Engagement ongoing

1.43%

CARIFORUM

Economic Partnership Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.26%

Central America (Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua)

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.08%

Côte d’Ivoire

Economic Partnership Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.03%

Egypt

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.24%

Georgia

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.01%

Ghana (Western Africa)

Economic Partnership Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.10%

Japan [until Feb. 2019 on WTO terms]

Free Trade Agreement

Engagement ongoing. UK will not transition this agreement for exit day

NA [2.2% until Feb. 2019]

Jordan

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.03%

Kenya (EAC) [pending in EU]

Economic partnership Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.11%

Kosovo

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.00%

Lebanon

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.05%

Mexico

Free trade Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.34%

Moldova

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.04%

Montenegro (Western Balkans)

Stabilisation and Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.01%

Morocco

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.18%

North Macedonia (Western Balkans)

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.15%

Serbia (Western Balkans

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.04%

Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa)

Economic Partnership Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.75%

South Korea

Free Trade Agreement

Engagement ongoing

1.16%

Tunisia

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.03%

Ukraine [partially in effect in EU}

Association Agreement

Engagement ongoing

0.09%

 

b) Agreements with countries that are closely aligned with the EU

Andorra and San Marino

Customs Union

UK will not transition this agreement for exit day

0.03%

EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) [Liechtenstein will be covered under UK-Swiss agreement as far as possible]

Economic Area Agreement

Engagement ongoing

2.30%

Turkey

Customs Union

UK will not transition this agreement for exit day

1.39%

 

c) Mutual Recognition Agreements

Japan

Mutual Recognition Agreement Engagement ongoing

NA