Major trade negotiations are advancing on two separate fronts, with the United Kingdom nearing a key agreement with the European Union to ease post-Brexit trade friction and ASEAN and Canada expecting to finalize a free trade pact this year. Both developments signal a push to reduce trade barriers and enhance economic ties in their respective regions.
In Europe, the UK government is approaching a deal with the EU on a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement designed to reduce the bureaucratic burdens on agrifood trade, ITV News reported on March 9, 2026. The agreement aims to simplify trade, lower costs, and cut red tape for businesses involved in the food, animal, and plant sectors. Since 2018, UK exports of food and agricultural products to the EU have declined by 22%, representing a loss of nearly £4 billion. The proposed deal, which could begin in mid-2027, would also eliminate the need for most regulatory checks on agrifood goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. To prepare businesses, the government has initiated a six-week call for information.
Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada announced their expectation to achieve a “substantial conclusion” to negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) in 2026. According to a March 6 statement from the ASEAN Secretariat, the announcement came during the 14th ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Committee meeting. The trade pact is anticipated to significantly strengthen economic integration into global value chains and improve market access for businesses. Alongside the trade talks, officials reviewed the progress of their current five-year Plan of Action and are preparing to adopt a new plan for 2026-2030 to further bolster their strategic partnership, including cooperation on the digital economy, climate change, and cybersecurity.
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