Introduction to free trade agreements

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This subtopic provides an overview of free trade agreements. It is aimed at lawyers who need a high-level overview of the legal framework. This subtopic contains the following guidance:

  1. •

    Practice Note:Introduction to free trade agreements

  2. •

    Practice Note: Free Trade Comparator

  3. •

    Practice Note: The Windsor Framework—trade between Northern Ireland, the UK and EU

  4. •

    Practice Note: Health certification for medium-risk animals, plants and products and high-risk food

  5. •

    Practice

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Latest International Trade News

White House unveils new tariffs on dozens of countries

Law360, Washington: President Donald Trump on 31 July 2025 announced a slew of new tariffs on nearly 70 countries that range from roughly 10% to 40%, unveiling the tariffs a day before his pause on worldwide ‘reciprocal’ tariffs was set to expire on 1 August 2025.

Weekly roundup of HMRC import, export and customs guidance—4 August 2025

Details of updates to HMRC import, export and customs guidance for the period from 29 July to 4 August 2025.

DBT announces restoration of EU steel export quota

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced the restoration of the UK's Country Specific Quota for Category 17 steel products, effective 1 August 2025. The European Commission's decision enables UK steel producers to export up to 27,000 tons per quarter to the EU without tariffs. The measure reinstates pre-existing trade arrangements and follows negotiations between UK-EU officials, implementing commitments made at the May 2025 UK-EU Summit. The quota applies specifically to construction steel products including support beams and affects trade relationships between 1,145 UK steel firms and their EU customers.

WTO issues notification on safeguard investigation procedures and deadlines

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued a notification outlining safeguard investigation procedures, establishing two concurrent 20-day deadlines for interested parties. The first deadline requires parties to register their interest in the investigation, while the second covers written submissions and hearing requests before the Commission. The notification specifies that safeguard actions, which allow temporary import restrictions, may only be implemented if increased imports are determined to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to domestic industry.

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