What next for the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement entered into force at the start of 2021 following years of tense negotiations over the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with Europe. The UK government said the deal maintained tariff- and quota-free trade between the UK and EU, but trade between the two has nonetheless stagnated since the UK’s departure from the EU, with the ONS recently saying that UK-EU trade is yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. A review of the agreement is due to begin in May 2026, however, and with elections due to take place in the UK and EU this year, it remains to be seen who the main protagonists will be in that process. This free webinar from the Institute of Export & International Trade discussed the impact of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, what elections in the UK and EU could mean for it, and what the major talking points are likely to be in future negotiations. Host: Will Barns-Graham, executive editor at IOE&IT Panelists: Fergus McReynolds – EU and international director at IOE&IT Sandra Cooper – trade and customs specialist at IOE&IT Jill Rutter – senior fellow at the Institute for Government Joël Reland – research associate at UK in a Changing Europe Alessandro Marongiu - senior trade policy manager at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders