Rules of Origin in UK Trade Agreements

<p dir="ltr">The United Kingdom formally exited the European Union and the common market in February 2020. Since then, the British government has signed several trade agreements to replace what was previously covered under EU trade treaties. The urgency of maintaining trade continuity after Brexit meant that most of the newly signed deals were ‘rolled over’ versions of prior EU terms of trade. The new trade deals are invariably described as ‘hurried’ or ‘performative’ favouring speed and visibility over securing a net benefit. The changes in rules of origin are minor and rare. When they do differ, they are overall more liberal and less complex than those of the European Union. This report covers the United Kingdom’s approach to trade agreements in the aftermath of Brexit, focusing specifically on rules of origin and departure from common EU trading terms.</p>