Impact of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement on the Triangular Supply Chains of Caribbean Exporters

Before the departure of the UK from the European Union (EU), commonly known as Brexit, third-country exporters faced the same customs union rules for shipping goods both to the UK and the EU.

Once entered either in the UK or the EU these goods could freely move within the single market. The Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and the European Union, which came into effect in January 2021, has altered these arrangements, affecting the operations of triangular supply chains of ACP countries including 12 Commonwealth members in the Caribbean region.

This joint workshop will discuss the findings of a new study by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on the implications of the TCA for the Caribbean region’s exports. It will also review the policy options to mitigate any adverse effects of this constantly evolving trade policy landscape.

ECLAC, through the Regional Integration Unit, participated with officials from The Commonwealth, the Caribbean Export Development Agency, and the Institute of Export and International Trade.