The Trade Bill will work together with the Customs Bill to put in
place the necessary legal powers to operate a fully functioning
trade policy and set the groundwork to becoming an independent
global trading nation. This will ensure the UK is ready for the
first day after exiting the EU, providing necessary certainty for
individuals, businesses, and international trading partners.
The Trade Bill focuses on providing continuity for businesses and
consumers. It will:
- create powers so the UK can transition trade agreements that
currently exist between the EU and other countries, and which we
are party to through our EU membership
- enable the UK to have continued access to £1.3 trillion worth
of government contracts and procurement opportunities in 47
countries – by creating the powers needed for the UK to implement
the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) as an independent
member instead of as part of the EU
- establish a new independent UK body, the Trade Remedies
Authority, to defend UK businesses against trade fluctuations and
unfair trade practices
- ensure the UK government has the legal abilities for
gathering and sharing trade information, as evidence to support
UK businesses against surges in imports and unfair practices
Further tax-related elements of the UK’s trade policy will be
legislated in the Treasury’s Customs Bill, as part of the
creation of a new UK tariff regime.
Relevant links to the Bill
The Trade Bill is published in full
on the Parliamentary website
The Trade White
Paper establishes the principles that will guide future
UK trade policy as well as laying out the practical steps that
will support those aims.
