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.
This report provides a comprehensive review of the UK’s trade policy and the extent to which it addresses today’s challenges.
The review evaluates how current UK trade policies respond to current pressures, how effectively they serve the UK’s economic interests and broader public policy goals. It identifies where changes may be needed to ensure consistency, coherence, resilience, and long-term prosperity. It also provides a transparent methodology that can be used for future reviews or other policy issues.
The report sets out detailed recommendations in each of its chapters as well as cross-cutting recommendations.
Aims
This UK Trade Policy Review will focus on trade policy effectiveness and coherence with broader policy objectives and concerns.
While the WTO report focuses largely on a detailed analysis of specific trade measures and sectoral issues, our Review addresses issues thematically. It also examines the way trade policy interacts with key issues, such as sustainability, economic security, regional development, industrial policy in a digital age, and inclusiveness.
The Review comprises a holistic evaluation of the UK’s trade policies, addressing a major gap in the UK trade policy formulation process.
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.
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
Key Dates
Post-election roundtables
September to December 2024
Citizens Jury (Public Engagement)
November 2024
Consultation on ‘the future of UK Trade Policy’
January 2025
Citizens Jury Results
April 2025
Industry roundtable events
May 2025
Final Report published and launch events
November 2025
The Team
UK Trade Policy Review Partnership
CITP in conjunction with Frontier Economics and the UK Trade Policy Observatory.