UK Trade Policy Review
International trade has an important contribution to make to living standards in UK. The current government has recognised this and is developing a trade strategy to set out how trade can contribute to its “growth mission”. At the same time, trade policy connects with other concerns, such as climate change and sustainability, economic security, and regional development. Trade policy is also at heart of geopolitical tensions that have escalated over the last few years.
In conjunction with Frontier Economics and the UK Trade Policy Observatory, the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy has conducted an independent UK Trade Policy Review. This Review is intended to complement the World Trade Organizations’ (WTO) review, which was published in October 2025.
About this Review
This Review provides a comprehensive review of the UK’s trade policy and the extent to which it addresses today’s challenges.
The Review identifies where changes may be needed to ensure consistency, coherence, resilience, and long-term prosperity, setting out detailed recommendations in each chapter as well as cross-cutting recommendations. It also provides a transparent methodology that can be used for future reviews or other policy issues. It comprises a holistic evaluation of the UK’s trade policies, addressing a major gap in the UK trade policy formulation process.
Chapter Summaries
Trade, productivity, and the UK economy: What the data tells us
An overview of the trends that have shaped the UK’s international trade profile
Mapping UK trade policy: A systematic evidence-based foundation
A discussion of the methods, approaches and motivations that shaped the Review
UK trade policy: Domestic framework and accountability
A review of the domestic architecture of trade policy: how trade policy is actually made in the UK
UK trade policy through a global lens
An overview of how the UK engages internationally through trade policy
Playing it safe? Economic security and the UK’s trade policy
A summary of how economic security objectives intersect with trade policy
Bits by bytes: digitalisation and the reshaping of trade policy
An overview of a defining feature of contemporary UK trade: the centrality of data, digital services, and regulation
Framing UK Trade Policy within environmental sustainability
A discussion of the UK’s approach to sustainability while operating within an open, multilateral trading system.
UK trade policy needs a coherent approach to address inclusivity
An examination of how trade policy impacts two dimensions of inclusivity: employment and gender in the UK.
UK Trade Strategy Analysis
In this section, we provide an in-depth analysis of key areas underpinning the UK's Trade Strategy. For each area, we provide an overview of what the Strategy says, and then an analysis of the objectives, approach, framework and policy tools through which the aims will be delivered. In the analysis, we highlight both the positives and some cautionary notes.
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Understanding the public’s trade policy priorities
As part of our UK Trade Policy Review, we wanted to know what the UK general public wants from trade policy.
Our findings reveal that the general public wants to see UK policymakers pursue a trade policy that balances economic growth with non-economic outcomes, like the protection of human rights and high food standards, rather than one that focuses on economic growth alone.
Find out more - How the public prioritises specific economic and non-economic trade outcomes
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The Team
UK Trade Policy Review Partnership
CITP in conjunction with Frontier Economics and the UK Trade Policy Observatory.