Also in the news...
UK seeks business views on response to US tariffs
Government begins process seeking business views on response to US tariffs
UK/Viet Nam: Free Trade Agreement
This treaty was presented to Parliament in April 2025.
How AI Is Fueling Creative Innovation for Startups Abroad
When most people think about starting a business overseas, their minds immediately jump to logistics: registering the company, navigating local laws, and finding office space. But one of the most exciting (and often overlooked) aspects of expanding internationally is tapping into the global pool of innovation especially in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI).
Support for UK businesses helping to rebuild Ukraine
Department for Business and Trade (DBT) initiatives to support UK businesses helping to rebuild critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
Now is the time to generate growth together with India
£400m of trade and investment wins from UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue set to boost the British economy.
European Union membership – who’s next?
At the end of last year, the European Union issued an update on the current status of countries presently on the fringes of the EU but that have indicated an interest in joining the trading bloc in the future. Foreign affairs MEPs called on the European Council to grant Albania EU Candidate Status as soon as possible.
They also endorsed the Council’s decision this summer to launch accession talks with Serbia, and recognised steps being made towards democracy in Kosovo. The recent signing of a Re-admission Agreement between Turkey and the EU could also lead to talks on EU membership for Turkey getting back on track.
MEPs reported on the decision of Iceland’s government to put the accession process on hold, awaiting a decision on whether to hold a referendum on EU membership there. Also, a planned Association Agreement with Ukraine remains unsigned due to political problems there.
It is worth remembering that it is likely to be many years before any of these countries join the EU, should it happen at all. In the meantime, however, most of them have special trading agreements with the EU countries, so there are still opportunities to import-export there.