#trade-agreements

#trade-agreements

Countries are increasingly settling aside old grudges to lessen their reliance on Washington. As Donald Trump continues to unleash havoc on allies and trading partners, countries are scrambling to forge new alliances and mend broken ones as they try to shield themselves from a mercurial American president. The past few months have seen a flurry of diplomatic moves by governments seeking to lessen their reliance on the United States, including among countries that had long nursed grudges against one another.

Stability. Consistency. Ever-changing complexity. With language like that, deployed in separate meetings in three Asian capitals this week, government leaders forged closer ties driven in part by a figure halfway around the world: the president of the United States. And much of the time, they didn't even mention Donald Trump's name. IN BEIJING: The U.K. and Chinese leaders called Thursday for a "long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership" between their two countries. The important words are long-term and stable. The two countries committed a decade ago to building a comprehensive strategic partnership but progress has been halting at best.

The milestone US-UK deal announced this month on pharmaceuticals, which will mean the NHS pays more for medicines in exchange for a promise of zero tariffs on the industry, still lacks a legal footing beyond top lines contained in two government press releases. Concerns over the basis of the agreement have been heightened by Washington's decision to suspend the 31bn tech prosperity deal, which had been hailed as a generational step-change in our relationship with the US.

According to the BCC's latest Quarterly Trade Confidence Report, only 16 per cent of micro exporters - companies with fewer than ten employees - reported growth in international sales during the third quarter of this year. In contrast, 42 per cent of larger exporters saw exports rise over the same period, highlighting what the BCC described as a "deeply concerning" divide.

UK SMEs say specific Government initiatives designed to help them survive and grow don't go far enough, according to new research from independent funder, Bibby Financial Services ("BFS"). The Q3 2025 SME Confidence Tracker, which surveys 1,000 UK SMEs, reveals that over half (52%) of small businesses believe measures such as the Fair Payment Code, Late Payments Review* and the British Business Bank's Bank Referral Scheme fail to protect and support them.

We are starting from scratch,

The Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) assures tax cuts that stimulate investment, job creation, and GDP growth, leading to unprecedented economic booms from fully deductible depreciation for buildings, equipment, and research.

"They got the 15% rate because they were willing to provide this innovative financing mechanism," he told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, when asked if other countries could get a similar rate.

"I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of," Marcos said Sunday when he was departing for Washington, according to his office.

President Trump signed the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' into law over the July 4 weekend, setting the stage for further deficit spending and higher national debt.

Production of cars in the UK has drastically decreased this year, highlighting significant challenges within the automotive sector and its response to external pressures.

The UK is an open trading nation but we must reconcile this with a new geopolitical reality and work in our own national interest.

The European Union's review indicates Israel may be violating human rights obligations under its trade agreement, prompting calls for potential action against the nation.

Ford highlighted that these agreements are essential for protecting Ontario's economy amidst the fluctuating landscape influenced by U.S. tariffs.

The British Chambers of Commerce has called for urgent government action to safeguard the domestic bioethanol industry at risk due to US import tariff removals.

The long-hoped-for agreement to create a common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area aims to dismantle damaging non-tariff barriers affecting the food and agriculture sectors.

The markets are showing little direction or conviction despite better-than-expected inflation data and a recent trade agreement between the U.S. and Beijing.

The newly announced US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal signifies a pivotal enhancement of transatlantic trade relationships, promising to lower tariffs and boost key sector collaboration.

The EU remains the UK's largest trading partner, but in sectors such as food and drink, exports have tumbled by more than a third since Brexit. It is important we do everything we can to ensure that whatever decisions are taken on the Brexit front do not damage the long-term trade position, said Bailey. So I hope that we can use this to start to rebuild that relationship.