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UK Free Trade Agreements: Rules of Origin and Preferential Tariffs

Stay ahead of the game by taking advantage of the UK's updated preferential tariffs and Rules of Origin for free trade agreements. Latest Updates: 07.04.2024


Latest Updates 14.01.2024


The UK’s preferential tariffs and Rules of Origin for the agreements have been updated. Customs professionals should review any changes to rules of origin applicable.


What is a trade agreement?

Trade agreements are made between two or more countries and set out the preferential rules for buying or selling goods or services between them. They reduce restrictions on trade, which can make buying and selling easier and cheaper.


Examples of trade agreements that have come into force include:

  • UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement

  • UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

  • Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

  • Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein Free Trade Agreement

  • The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement treaty covers all UK trade with the EU.


How many trade agreements does the UK have?

The UK has signed more than 70 trade agreements and most of these can be used by businesses right now. The UK is also in the process of negotiating new or updated agreements with countries including Canada, Mexico, Israel, India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) trading bloc. The UK has also signed a deal to join CPTPP, a large Indo-Pacific and Americas trade group spanning 11 countries. For the first time, the UK will have a trade deal with Malaysia, giving UK businesses better access to an economy worth £330 billion in 2022.


How can trade agreements benefit my business?

Trade agreements make it easier and cheaper to do business overseas in a number of ways.

These may include:

  • lower or removed tariffs

  • better investment opportunities

  • improved market access

  • enhanced protections for businesses in areas such as data protection and intellectual property

These benefits will differ depending on what was agreed with the partner country during the negotiating process.


How to use a trade agreement

A trade agreement's provisions may apply automatically in certain cases. When it comes to others, there might be steps you need to take before you can gain anything. The necessary action(s) will vary depending on the kind of goods or services you are purchasing or selling, as well as the nation with which you are conducting business.

You can determine which goods are covered by trade agreements and where your goods come from by using rules of origin.

The rules of origin must be understood in order to:

  • claim your importer's tariff preference

  • show where the products you're exporting came from.


If you import or export using a trade agreement or preference, read our guides on rules of origin to find out if you can reduce the duties on your goods


The Origin of Goods in the UK: What it is and what it is not


The products' origin reveals to you the location of their cultivation, production, or manufacturing. It might not be the nation from which they are shipped or purchased. All products are covered by this, regardless of whether they are


  • Trade agreements of the UK

  • Trading Scheme for Developing Countries

  • non-preferential origin rules

Rules of origin may be applied in a preferential or non-preferential manner. Use the non-preferential rules in situations where the preferential rules are not applicable.


Preferential and non-preferential tariff quotas, which permit a specific quantity of goods to be imported at a reduced or zero rate of duty, apply to some products. You must import the goods with a tariff quota in order to take advantage of the reduced rate of duty. The trade tariff tool allows you to determine whether the goods you're importing are subject to a tariff quota as well as what additional paperwork you might need in order to file a quota claim. Imports will be charged the full rate of duty after a preferential or non-preferential quota is reached. You must determine whether the materials used to make your products come from one country or several before implementing any import and export regulations.


Here is the link to all the Rules of Origin in UK Free Trade Agreements


Find out here:



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