Summary

The UK government is seeking input from businesses on the scope of a new UK – Israel trade deal.

The UK Government has formally announced that it will open negotiations with Israel in 2022 with a view to further liberalising and expanding the scope of the current trade arrangements. In 2019 the UK and Israel entered into the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreements (UK-Israel TPA) which broadly replicated the existing agreement between the EU and Israel.

On 1 February 2022 the UK Department for International Trade (“DIT”) launched a consultation to seek written input from UK businesses, industry associations and interested stakeholders to provide it with an informed position for determining negotiation objectives and priority areas. The public response will be considered carefully and the consultation provides a platform for businesses and stakeholders to influence UK policy and decision makers.

The key areas of the proposed trade agreement with Israel that businesses are likely to have significant interest(s) in include:

• Tariffs on goods;
• Standards and regulation of goods and services;
• Access to services markets, including financial services;
• Government procurement; and
• Intellectual Property. 

Providing DIT with a clear, succinct and considered response to the consultation is an excellent opportunity to take an active role in the negotiation process. Identification of opportunities to increase bi-lateral trade through particular liberalisation measures or far reaching trading priorities provides a platform for engagement with DIT.