In this session, the UK Trade and Business Commission met to hear from experts what role devolution and levelling up have in future UK trade deals.

Trade agreements are negotiated by national governments, though topics covered are likely to include those for which responsibility lies with devolved authorities. This is an issue faced across the world given that those topics extend far beyond tariff reduction and can see regulations bound by treaty. In the UK devolved government responsibilities affected are likely to include agriculture, services provision such as professional qualifications, and public procurement, but many more such as Scotland’s minimum alcohol pricing could be an issue.