In May 2025, approximately 18.4 percent of businesses in the UK reported that they had experienced challenges importing due to additional paperwork, with 16 percent reporting changes in exchange rates posing a challenge.

In May 2025, approximately 18.5 percent of businesses in the UK reported that they had experienced challenges exporting due to change in exchange rates, with a further 15.1 percent facing challenges due regarding customs duties or levies.

Since the first quarter of 2016, the total trade deficit of the UK has widened, most notably in the first half of 2022. As of the second quarter of 202 the UK's trade balance reached 19 billion British pounds.

  UK’s EU and non-EU trade   UK runs a trade deficit with the EU, but this is not the case regarding trade with countries outside the European Union. Since 2012, the value of UK goods exported to non-EU countries has persistenly been greater than imports made from these countries, resulting in a healthy trade surplus.

  International UK trade after Brexit   Following the Brexit referendum of 2016,the UK government has sought to renew a number of trade agreements that come automatically with EU membership, such as Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).

As of the first quarter of 2025, the value of goods exported to the European Union from the United Kingdom was over 42.1 billion British pounds, compared with around 76.7 billion pounds of goods imported, resulting in a negative goods trade balance with the EU of around approximately 34.6 billion pounds.

We analyse the effects of uncertainty and anticipation shocks associated with the 2016 Brexit vote as a treatment on trade between the UK and 14 EU and 14 non-EU trading partners, using the synthetic control method (SCM). After controlling for exchange rate and GDP changes, UK exports to both groups of countries fell below those of the synthetic Britain, with much of the shortfall developing over the year prior to the referendum, following the 2015 Conservative general election win. The results indicate that UK exports to EU countries may have lost nearly 25% by early 2018, due to the Brexit shock, somewhat more than those to non-EU countries. Imports from the EU and non-EU countries also declined a little, although there is tentative evidence that UK consumers may have been avoiding countries with preferential trade agreements (PTAs) with the EU, and possibly turning towards the Commonwealth. Overall, the results confirm that policy uncertainty has a major effect upon trade and that uncertainty about supply chain costs is a potential explanation for at least some of the shortfall.

This study will analyse the potential economic impact of a lack of the Trade Continuity Agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom when the United Kingdom would no longer be a legal party to Canada-EU treaties, including CETA as of January 1, 2021. In the absence of a transitional agreement or a trade agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom, bilateral trade between the two countries would be governed by WTO rules alone, and the goods trade between Canada and the United Kingdom would be subject to WTO most-favoured nation (MFN) duties. Neither Canada nor the United Kingdom would continue to benefit from the preferential market access currently provided for under CETA. In May 2020, the United Kingdom announced the applied MFN tariff schedule referred to as the UK Global Tariff (UKGT), which would take effect after the post-Brexit transition period. The United Kingdom’s bound tariff rates—the highest tariffs that the United Kingdom could apply—have not yet been certified at the WTO. The proposed bound tariffs are almost identical to the EU’s Common External Tariffs (CET). The analysis that follows explores the economic implications of the two scenarios where Canada-U.K. trade reverts to MFN conditions: the U.K. applied tariffs (UKGT) and the U.K. bound tariffs (EU CET). The benefits from increased certainty for the services sectors under CETA would also be removed.

In the first quarter of 2025, the value of exports from the United Kingdom amounted to approximately 227 billion British pounds, while imports to the country amounted to around 238 billion pounds, resulting in a trade deficit of around 10.6 billion pounds in this quarter. During this time period, the value of UK exports was highest in the fourth quarter of 2022, with the value of imports peaking in the third quarter of 2022. The UK's main trade partners Despite the UK leaving the EU in 2020 following the Brexit referendum of 2016, Europe remains the main destination for UK exports, with almost half of UK exports heading there in 2023. During the same year, just over 60 percent of imports came from European countries, compared with around 17.9 percent from countries in Asia, and 11.8 percent from the Americas. In terms of individual countries, the United States was the UK's leading export partner for both goods and services from the UK, while Germany was the main source of UK goods imports, and the U.S. for service imports. It is as yet unclear how the return of Donald Trump to the White House will impact UK/US trade relations, should the President follow through with threats made on the campaign trail to increase trade tariffs. Brexit rethink under Starmer? Although generally more pro-European than the previous government, the new Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, does not plan to rejoin the European Union, or the Single Market. Public opinion, while gradually turning against Brexit recently, has not coalesced around a particular trading relationship. In late 2023, a survey indicated that while 31 percent of British adults wanted to rejoin the EU, a further 30 percent wanted to simply improve relations with the EU, instead of rejoining. Just 11 percent of respondents wanted to join the single market but not the EU, while 10 percent were happy with the relationship as it was. At the start of 2025, after several months in office, the new government has not signalled any major change in direction regarding on this, but has broadly signalled it wants a better relationship with the EU.

We examine how the looming threat of tariff hikes under a trade agreement renegotiation impacts firm entry into a trading partner's market by exploiting uncertainty over the future UK-EU trade relationship brought about by the June 2016 Brexit referendum. Using the universe of UK export transactions at the firm and product level, we find that uncertainty over future market access to the EU deterred entry modestly in the months immediately after the Brexit vote, but the deterrent effect increased over time.

In December 24, 2020, the European Union and the United Kingdom signed the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) after years of negotiations following the Brexit decision of June 2016. According to the winter economic forecast published by the European Commission, the impact of the trade agreement on the United Kingdom's gross domestic output (GDP) is predicted to lead to a loss of about 2.25 percent by the end of 2022. This was lower than the previous forecast, which was based on a no-deal scenario trading under WTO terms. The impact of the trade agreement on the EU's GDP is forecast to be significantly lower at about 0.5 percent.

The economic landscape of the United Kingdom has been significantly shaped by the intertwined issues of Brexit, COVID-19, and their interconnected impacts. Despite the country’s robust and diverse economy, the disruptions caused by Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have created uncertainty and upheaval for both businesses and individuals. Recognizing the magnitude of these challenges, academic literature has directed its attention toward conducting immediate research in this crucial area. This study sets out to investigate key economic factors that have influenced various sectors of the UK economy and have broader economic implications within the context of Brexit and COVID-19. The factors under scrutiny include the unemployment rate, GDP index, earnings, and trade. To accomplish this, a range of data analysis tools and techniques were employed, including the Box-Jenkins method, neural network modeling, Google Trend analysis, and Twitter-sentiment analysis. The analysis encompassed different periods: pre-Brexit (2011-2016), Brexit (2016-2020), the COVID-19 period, and post-Brexit (2020-2021). The findings of the analysis offer intriguing insights spanning the past decade. For instance, the unemployment rate displayed a downward trend until 2020 but experienced a spike in 2021, persisting for a six-month period. Meanwhile, total earnings per week exhibited a gradual increase over time, and the GDP index demonstrated an upward trajectory until 2020 but declined during the COVID-19 period. Notably, trade experienced the most significant decline following both Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the impact of these events exhibited variations across the UK’s four regions and twelve industries. Wales and Northern Ireland emerged as the regions most affected by Brexit and COVID-19, with industries such as accommodation, construction, and wholesale trade particularly impacted in terms of earnings and employment levels. Conversely, industries such as finance, science, and health demonstrated an increased contribution to the UK’s total GDP in the post-Brexit period, indicating some positive outcomes. It is worth highlighting that the impact of these economic factors was more pronounced on men than on women. Among all the variables analyzed, trade suffered the most severe consequences in the UK. By early 2021, the macroeconomic situation in the country was characterized by a simple dynamic: economic demand rebounded at a faster pace than supply, leading to shortages, bottlenecks, and inflation. The findings of this research carry significant value for the UK government and businesses, empowering them to adapt and innovate based on forecasts to navigate the challenges posed by Brexit and COVID-19. By doing so, they can promote long-term economic growth and effectively address the disruptions caused by these interrelated issues.

This statistic presents results of a survey carried out in selected Latin American countries in July 2018 regarding the UK's influence in Latin America post Brexit. During the survey, 46 percent of Mexican respondents stated they believed UK leaving the EU would make it more influential in Latin America.

As of January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer a member of the European Union (EU). The UK left the EU without a trade deal, and has until the end of 2020 to determine the new framework of its trade relations with the EU. This means either a free trade agreement (FTA) will need to be struck between the two parties, or the UK will fall back on trading under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. According to a study on the possible impact of these scenarios on GDP growth in the UK, after the transition period ends by the beginning of 2021, trading under WTO terms will lead to a decline of *** percent in UK GDP. Relative to this rate, if the UK trade with the EU under a FTA, the GDP is forecast to improve by * percent.

On December 30, 2020, the United Kingdom's House of Commons voted in favor of the European Union future relationship bill, by 521 votes to 73. The bill made the post-Brexit trade deal law just hours before the transition period was due to end, averting a no-deal Brexit. The deal received such a high level of support in the House of Commons due to being supported by both the Conservative party, and the largest opposition party, the Labour Party. Parliament rejects May's deal three times Although the United Kingdom was set to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019, Members of Parliament rejected Theresa May's negotiated deal on January 15 of that year and the amended deal on March 12. Parliament then voted to reject a no-deal Brexit on March 13, and finally to request the EU for a delay on March 14. After receiving an extension until October 31, 2019, Theresa May attempted to get her deal accepted a third time, but this too was rejected, albeit by a smaller margin. As a result of her inability to get her deal through parliament. Boris Johnson emerged as her successor following a Conservative leadership contest. 14 years of Conservative rule come to an end Johnson won enough seats in the 2019 General Election to ensure the passage of his Withdrawal Agreement on December 20, 2019. The fortunes of Johnson and the Conservative Party quickly turned after this victory, however. A series of scandals cost Johnson his popularity, and by 2022 they were trailing Labour in the polls. Things deteriorated further when Liz Truss replaced Johnson as leader, when her budget caused a brief economic crisis, leading to her resignation after just 45 days in office. Rishi Sunak followed Truss as Prime Minister, but struggled to reverse a dismal polling position for the party in time for the 2024 General Election, which saw them lose to the Labour Party, ending their 14 years as the UK's ruling party.

Street ethnography was conducted through street interviews in the North of England (Sheffield, Rochdale and Rotherham) and Northern Ireland (Newry, Derry/Londonderry) designed to elicit public understandings of accountability for post-Brexit realities, and hence legitimacy of post-Brexit governance. Ethnographic street interviews are useful for capturing a diffuse public ‘mood’ in particular locations identified as important for expectations about post-Brexit health governance - the ‘left behind’. The term ‘ethnographic’ means these interviews occur in ‘unstructured’ public spaces, like shopping centres or high streets, and are based on unobtrusive questions about abstract concepts. Their aim is to capture intuitive conceptions of key ideas (‘what do you think of when you hear the word accountability?’, for example), in a context where research participants are more likely to give answers reflecting their intuitive expectations and views in a way that more structured methods like focus groups do not. The metaphors people use to describe abstract or complex concepts (such as accountability for post-Brexit governance of health and the NHS) reveal how they frame, experience and understand the world, and key concepts related to it. Transcripts and field notes from the ethnographic interviews have been thematically coded. This contribution is particularly distinctive in political science studies, which tend not to examine ‘everyday’ conceptions of accountability in a broader context of legitimacy. The collection of data from elite stakeholders relevant to the project was carried out in the first instance through semi-structured interviews. Two interviewers (TH and MW) conducted the interviews with co-producer stakeholder participants in their workplaces in England (predominantly London, but also Leeds and Alton, Kent) and one interviewer (MF) conducted the interviews with participants in Northern Ireland/ROI (predominantly Belfast and Dublin).

Language such as 'a red, white and blue Brexit' or 'Brexit means Brexit' allows for an array of ideas about Brexit to be projected onto the process of the UK leaving the EU and what it means. The EU is not just a political organisation, it is also a legal organisation. Leaving the EU means agreeing a new legally expressed relationship for now and for the future. It also means new UK laws, such as a Trade Act and Immigration Act. We are investigating the (legal) language of Brexit, and comparing how elites and ordinary people understand it. We are doing that in the context of a topic that matters a great deal to the general public: health and the NHS. We want to analyse what the new laws will mean for patients, for NHS staff, for drugs, medical devices and equipment, blood and organ donation, and for laws that affect our health, like food safety and tobacco regulation. To make that legal analysis useful, we will work with some specific groups, all of whom have expertise in key areas impacted by Brexit, to help us understand what scenarios the people they work with or represent are facing. These groups include Kidney Care UK; the Faculty of Public Health; and the Colleges of Midwives in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Once we have done that, we will find out how the general public understand what is happening to health and the NHS post-Brexit. Are people happy with the changes? Who do they think is responsible and should be responsible? Do they think the new law is legitimate? We will work in two places that represent different issues in a post-Brexit world: the north of England, and Northern Ireland. The north of England is a 'left-behind' region economically, and this is one explanation given for its pattern of Leave voting. Northern Ireland faces special challenges post-Brexit, because it shares a land border with the rest of the EU. Health services have been shared in the north of the island of Ireland for a long time, and EU law has helped to support that. We will carry out street interviews, to understand how ordinary people think about abstract ideas like Brexit and accountability. We will use the information from our legal analysis to ask people what they think about what the new laws mean - for patients, for NHS staff, and so on. Finally, we will compare the language that the law uses, and that experts use, with the everyday language used by the general public. When we talk about abstract things, we often use metaphors, like 'red, white and blue Brexit'. Examining metaphors will help us to understand how people feel, and whether the general public feel the same as experts. Metaphors will help us find out if there are gaps between how people feel about the new post-Brexit laws on health and the NHS, and what those laws achieve. This will help us understand whether post-Brexit law enjoys social legitimacy - and if not, why not. That could - and should - inform policies about what to do about it.

As of May 2025, 56 percent of people in Great Britain thought that it was wrong to leave the European Union, compared with 32 percent who thought it was the right decision. During this time period, the share of people who regret Brexit has been slightly higher than those who support it, except for some polls in Spring 2021, which showed higher levels of support for Brexit. Is Bregret setting in? Since late July 2022, the share of people who regret Brexit in these surveys has consistently been above 50 percent. Additionally, a survey from January 2025 highlighted that most people in the UK thought that Brexit had had a mainly negative impact, especially on the cost of living and the economy. Despite there being a clear majority of voters who now regret Brexit, there is as yet no particular future relationship with the EU that has overwhelming support. As of late 2023, 31 percent of Britons wanted to rejoin the EU, while 30 percent merely wanted to improve trade relations and not rejoin either the EU or the single market. Leave victory in 2016 defied the polls In the actual referendum, which took place on June 23, 2016, Leave won 51.9 percent of the votes and Remain 48.1 percent, after several polls in the run-up to the referendum put Remain slightly ahead. Remain were anticipated to win until early results from North East England suggested that Leave had performed far better than expected, with this pattern replicated throughout the country. This event was repeated somewhat in the U.S. election of that year, which saw Donald Trump win several key swing states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, despite predictions that these states would vote for Hillary Clinton.

The leading food or drink product exported from the UK in 2023 was whiskey by far. The export value of whiskey reached *** billion British pounds that year. In comparison, milk, cream, and chocolate, the second and third most exported products, only reached about *** and *** million British pounds in export value, respectively. Scottish whisky Whisky has been distilled in Scotland for many years and is the origin of all Scotch whisky, so it is no surprise that whisky is a top export from the UK. The Scottish whisky brand, Johnnie Walker, sold **** million 9-liter cases of whisky in 2021. It is the ***** most sold whisky worldwide and it is among the top ten most popular spirit brands worldwide as well. UK trade within Europe Despite the impact of Brexit, the UK and the rest of Europe remain important trade partners to one another. After a sharp drop in exports in January 2021, exports of goods from the UK have begun to recover and even exceeded pre-Brexit levels. ************************************ are the leading destinations for food and drink exports from the UK as of 2021. Exports to Ireland reached ***** billion British pounds.

This statistic shows results from an online survey conducted in Great Britain in November 2016 on whether Britain not signing a new trade deal with the European Union (EU) once it has left the EU would have a good outcome for Britain. In this scenario, slightly more people perceived negative consequences.

The size of the Compliance Carbon Credit Market was valued at USD 0.82 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.16 Million by 2032, with an expected CAGR of 14.81% during the forecast period. The compliance carbon credit market is essential in the global initiative to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, offering a structured approach for companies and nations to fulfill their regulatory requirements under climate policies. This market functions within cap-and-trade frameworks or carbon pricing systems established by governmental bodies and international accords, including the Paris Agreement. Entities that are subject to emission restrictions must either curtail their emissions or acquire carbon credits to offset any excess emissions. These credits signify verified reductions in greenhouse gases achieved through various projects, such as renewable energy developments, reforestation efforts, or methane capture technologies. The compliance carbon credit market has experienced substantial growth as an increasing number of regions adopt obligatory carbon pricing. Notable examples include the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and California’s Cap-and-Trade Program, where industries are mandated to purchase credits to adhere to emission limits. This market creates a financial incentive for businesses to invest in cleaner technologies and practices, thereby encouraging innovation and contributing to a reduction in overall emissions. Nevertheless, the market encounters challenges, including the need for credible verification of carbon credits, the prevention of market manipulation, and the management of price fluctuations in carbon credits. Despite these challenges, the compliance carbon credit market continues to be a vital tool for achieving global climate objectives and advancing sustainable development. Recent developments include: April 2024: Regional efforts in the Western United States and Canada are gaining momentum as the urgency of combating climate change increases. Plans to link their carbon markets are being drawn up in California, Quebec, and Washington, which could significantly affect trading dynamics. The three authorities intend to work together to create a more extensive carbon credit market as soon as their proposed alliance takes effect., January 2024: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued proposed guidance on the listing of voluntary carbon credit (VCC) derivatives contracts on designated contract markets for the public to comment on the proposal.. Key drivers for this market are: Regulatory Mandates and Policies, Growing Corporate Sustainability Initiatives. Potential restraints include: Market Complexity and Uncertainty. Notable trends are: Charting the Course of Carbon Pricing: UK-ETS Post-Brexit.

The UK road freight transportation market, a significant component of the broader logistics sector, is experiencing robust growth driven by the nation's robust e-commerce expansion and increasing industrial activity. The market, segmented by end-user industry (agriculture, construction, manufacturing, etc.), destination (domestic and international), truckload specification (FTL and LTL), containerization, distance (long and short haul), and goods configuration (fluid and solid goods, temperature-controlled), presents diverse investment opportunities. While precise market sizing data is unavailable for the UK specifically, extrapolating from global trends and considering the UK's economic structure, a reasonable estimation of the 2025 market size could be in the range of £50-60 billion, reflecting the substantial volume of goods transported daily within the country and internationally through its major ports. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is likely to remain positive, driven by factors such as expanding online retail, increasing cross-border trade post-Brexit adjustments (despite related challenges), and the ongoing need for efficient supply chain management. However, the market faces headwinds, including driver shortages, escalating fuel costs, and increasingly stringent environmental regulations pushing towards greener transport solutions. The transition to electric and alternative fuel vehicles, while presenting long-term sustainability benefits, represents a significant investment hurdle for many operators. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of large multinational logistics providers such as DHL and DB Schenker, and smaller, specialized firms catering to niche markets. These companies are constantly adapting their strategies to overcome challenges and capitalize on evolving consumer demands and technological advancements within the supply chain. The short-haul segment is expected to see steady growth due to last-mile delivery requirements, while long-haul transportation will be affected by fluctuating fuel prices and geopolitical factors influencing cross-border logistics. The increasing adoption of technology, such as telematics and route optimization software, is transforming operational efficiency and creating new opportunities for innovation within the sector. Recent developments include: September 2023: DHL Supply Chain has announced plans to begin operating biomethane fuelled trucks with an investment worth €80 million into a dedicated biomethane production facility in Cork, run by Stream BioEnergy. Biomethane is a renewable gas with the capacity to be carbon neutral. The new facility will provide fuel for up to 150 trucks, resulting in an annual carbon reduction of 15,000 tonnes, the equivalent of more than 38 million miles driven by an average petrol-powered passenger vehicle.September 2023: DB Schenker has purchased a new 2.3-acre site at Trafford Park, Manchester. The new facility will have various features to support DB Schenker's operations and employee needs. It will contain designated zones for consolidating shipments across all transport modes.August 2023: DSV is pleased to announce that an expansion is underway of the all-new 16-tonne all-electric medium-duty Volta Zero, which has departed the gates of the Southern hub, Purfleet, for the very first time. The all-electric Volta Zero will be operating last-mile groupage deliveries in London and the Southeast making city centres safer and more sustainable for everyone. With a battery capacity of 150-225 kWh, depending on specification, the Volta Zero returns a real-world pure electric range of 95–125 miles on a single charge and is anticipated to be operating between the hours of 06.00hrs and 19.00hrs, with overnight charging back at the main depot.. Notable trends are: OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT.