Albanian British Chamber of Commerce and Industry ABCCI
APRIL 11, 2025
The British government is taking decisive steps to strengthen trade relations with Europe as international economic pressures mount due to US tariffs, according to recent statements from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
While firmly ruling out any possibility of the UK rejoining the EU customs union, the Chancellor emphasized that the government is committed to finding pragmatic solutions to the export difficulties British firms have encountered since Brexit.
“Given the difficulties British firms have found in exporting their products around Europe, we want to improve our trade relationship with partners in Europe,” Reeves stated, highlighting the practical needs of UK businesses over ideological positions.
The Chancellor’s comments reveal her efforts to encourage Prime Minister Keir Starmer toward a more ambitious approach to removing trade barriers with the European Union. This represents a significant shift in UK economic policy, prioritizing practical trade facilitation over previous Brexit-era stances.
The upcoming UK-EU summit scheduled for May 19 is being positioned as a critical opportunity “to refresh our relationship and make it easier for businesses to trade,” according to Reeves. This summit may mark a turning point in post-Brexit economic relations between Britain and its largest trading partner.
“I feel that in the current environment, there is a greater willingness from countries around the world to look at both tariff and non-tariff barriers that are holding back trade,” Reeves told the Financial Times, suggesting that global economic uncertainties are creating new openings for trade cooperation.
This pragmatic approach comes as British businesses continue to navigate the complex trading landscape created by Brexit, while simultaneously facing new challenges from shifting US trade policies that threaten to disrupt global markets.
