Trade disputes the UK has with other countries
Ongoing trade disputes in which the UK is a main or third party.
The UK has full responsibility for managing its trade disputes with other countries.
The UK’s first preference is to resolve disputes through diplomatic channels. However, the UK will bring and defend World Trade Organization (WTO) and free trade agreement (FTA) disputes as necessary to defend UK interests.
WTO disputes
The WTO has a dispute settlement mechanism which provides a legal framework that members can use to resolve disputes. A WTO dispute can arise when one WTO member believes that another is violating an agreement or a commitment that it has made in the WTO.
Learn more about the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism.
FTA disputes
FTAs usually contain a state-to-state dispute settlement mechanism, which the parties to the agreement can use to resolve trade disputes.
The details of these mechanisms vary across agreements, but most are modelled on the WTO dispute settlement process.
Some of our dispute settlement mechanisms include lists of arbitrators that can be used when a dispute arises under the agreement.
See the agreed lists of arbitrators in UK free trade agreements (FTAs).
The role of business and industry within state-to-state dispute settlements
WTO disputes can only be launched or defended by states.
Businesses should report trade barriers to inform the government when other WTO members or FTA partners are not fulfilling their obligations.
Businesses and private parties may be invited to submit evidence in WTO and FTA disputes.
Disputes where the UK is a complainant
WTO disputes the UK has brought against another country.
Disputes where the UK is a respondent
WTO disputes where the UK is a named respondent.
Disputes where the UK is a third party
WTO disputes the UK has joined as a third party.
The UK can join WTO disputes as a third party where it is neither a complainant nor a respondent. The UK must have a ‘substantial interest’ in the dispute to do so.
This provides an opportunity to present UK views to the panel and, if the panel report is appealed, to the WTO’s Appellate Body.