FEATURE


INTERNATIONAL TRADE


What are trade agreements?


In the wake of the triggering of Article 50, Jeff Lewis, Managing Director at import export training experts Resultz, decodes the specifics of trade agreements.


In light of Brexit, there has been much discussion about new trade agreements for the UK. Now Article 50 has been triggered, this subject is high on the agenda.


But what is a trade agreement? Many people refer to these as free trade agreements. So what is the definition of free trade? Free trade is a policy in international markets in which


governments do not restrict imports or exports. Free trade is exemplified by the European Union, which has established an open market.


Is that the case with other free trade agreements that we are currently been hearing about? The EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement, for example, which concluded in 2011, states that: “each party shall eliminate its customs duties on Originating Goods of the other party.”


So what does “Originating Goods” currently mean for the UK and South Korea? Firstly, products that are wholly produced (or obtained) in any member state of the EU, comply with the rules of origin. The smallest addition of materials or processing from outside the EU will disqualify a product from being wholly produced, losing its origin status. When a finished product is classified in a four-figure


product classification different from those of all the materials incorporated in that product, it meets the rule of origin. This allows for some components from outside the EU to be used. There are, however, many exceptions to these rules, covering all the different product groups. The other rule allows for a percentage of “non


originating materials” (from outside the EU) to be included in the manufacture of products in the EU, where the product classification may not change. This allows EU companies to claim EU origin on products which results in reduced import duties at the destination.


32 business network June 2017


Does that sound like Free Trade? If we go back to the EU, then UK companies have been able to trade freely throughout the EU without compliance to these complicated rules.


So is the agreement with South Korea a Preferential Trade Agreement? If potential trade agreements are continually described as free then this will potentially mislead many UK companies, which may be thinking that if they get a trade agreement with “whoever” then they can sell all their products to them as the vast majority of delegates who attend our import/export training courses see this as the case. Have you also noticed that I refer to the rule of origin as the


EU? In theory, this will mean in two years all UK manufacturers with components in their products from the EU will no longer comply with the “wholly produced” rule of origin.


Do UK companies in these situations realise they may not comply with the new trade agreements? What they will most likely have to do is prove compliance to origin rules that are agreed between “whoever” and the UK, as it is not always a given that all products will be included in a trade agreement. Also, note that our negotiating power is arguably not as


strong as it was. If we want to secure a trade agreement, then most of these are reciprocal, so “whoever” will want to ensure that they do not agree to too many trade preferences for products as this may provide too much competition to their own local manufacturers, from imports. What UK companies now need to do is look at our


current trade agreements and see how the rules of origin for their products work as it is more than likely these rules will be the foundation of future trade agreements. Could this apply to a UK/EU agreement? Possibly, but


whatever is agreed, UK companies need to understand how these rules apply to them, if they want to take advantage of any trade agreements in the future.


UK companies have been able to trade throughout the EU without compliance


‘Free trade is a policy in international markets in which governments do not restrict imports or exports’


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