In early-2024, NPTW teamed with Dr Anna Jerzewska of Trade & Borders to produce an in-house report for the UK Department for Business and Trade addressing issues associated with utilisation of free trade agreements by British businesses.

As part of the project, we undertook interviews with a number of UK businesses to test their awareness of the new trade agreements and whether this awareness was leading to successful use of the treaties.  We benchmarked utilisation of the agreements in the UK with that of other countries and provided analysis of factors behind preference utilisation rates, drawing on research conducted across the globe.

Our reporting to the Department for Business and Trade is helping it shape its strategies for maximising utilisation of the UK’s trade agreements.