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The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020 and the transition period ended on 31 December 2020. The UK and EU trade relationship is now governed by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed on 24 December 2020. 

We will be updating this page with our latest analysis of the trade agreement and the key issues that will affect businesses in the UK and its trading partners over the coming months and into the future. We hope you will find it useful.

If you would like to discuss specific arrangements for support through the risks of the move to an uncertain future relationship, on how you might express the concerns of your business to governments, on dispute risks that may arise, or on any other questions or challenges you have, please do contact your regular Herbert Smith Freehills relationship contacts, or otherwise any of our experts listed here.

To keep up to date with our latest Brexit analysis, including notifications of most recent commentary on the trade agreement, subscribe to our Brexit blog.

Key contacts

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James Palmer

Partner, London

James Palmer
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Gavin Williams

Global Co-Head of Infrastructure, London

Gavin Williams
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Stephen Wilkinson

Partner, London

Stephen Wilkinson
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Lode Van Den Hende

Partner, Brussels

Lode Van Den Hende
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Paul Butcher

Director of Public Policy, London

Paul Butcher

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