UK Membership of PEM In today's episode of Trade Bites, we're discussing the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention on Rules of Origin (PEM) and whether the UK should join. The PEM makes it easier for UK firms to use inputs

Should the UK join the PEM Convention on Rules of Origin, and what difference would this make to businesses?

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Much to be welcomed in the UK-EU reset. Not perfect but a positive step forward. The tricky tightrope of balancing the politics and economics has been largely managed. Walking a tightrope in tandem is a tricky business. Good to see the moves towards closer linkage of ETS, CBAM &energy markets.

The UK government makes clear it's intention to protect UK food standards in its trade deals. Turns out this is somewhat complicated, and not so obvious.

citp.ac.uk/publications...

Blinded by the light: The trouble with today’s trade policy Trade policy is more difficult today that it was three months ago, and significantly more so than five years ago. The former is due to the actions of the new US administration, but the latter is a mor...

Some reflections on why trade policy is much harder now. www.uktpo.org/2025/04/04/b...

What is the top priority for US-UK trade relations? YouTube video by Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy

Ahead of Trump’s tariff announcement tomorrow, trade experts share their thoughts on the key priorities for UK-US trade relations 👉 youtu.be/vI5jk0UiJ98

How much damage could Trump’s tariffs do and what can be done? The short answer to the first part of the question is: “a lot” - and the damage is likely to be both globally and to the US itself. A longer answer is that, in many respects, we do not really know. Th...

Some reflections on the threatened Trump tariffs, and limited effective responses www.uktpo.org/2025/02/03/h...

At the UKTPO and CITP we are conducting a comprehensive review of UK trade policy over this year. Have your say and tell us how trade policy affects you and what changes you would like. See: citp.ac.uk/uktpr#:~:tex...

Important vote in Northern Ireland today on continue or not with the Windsor Framework. For a reminder of the WF see: citp.ac.uk/publications.... If the vote is carried but without cross community support, an independent review will be required, to assess how these details have worked or not.

As is often remarked upon - the UK is primarily a services economy, and services account for at least 50% of UK exports. See our latest discussion note, following a joint roundtable with the Resolution Foundation, on services trade with recommendations for the government's trade strategy.

Discussion note following our joint roundtable with the CBI on policy towards exports esp. for SMEs. citp.ac.uk/publications...

What this misses is that trade can be part of the problem, and not only a benign facilitator of growth. Trade policy should be more than reducing barriers, but about working out which barriers are more likely to lead to / contribute to 'good' outcomes v 'bad' outcomes

A cogently argued piece, hard to disagree with having the right hammer for the right nails. However, I do worry about the central premise - concerns re green transition, industrial development, fairer outcomes are ancillary to trade ergo don't use than trade levers.

What should be the UK government's top priorities in its trade strategy? Please complete our survey! citp.ac.uk/trade-strate...