The UK has signed a Partnership, Trade and Co-operation Agreement with North Macedonia, securing continued preferential access with the UK’s largest trading partner in the Western Balkans.
Trade between the UK and North Macedonia was worth £1.8 billion in 2019 and the agreement means that trade can continue on the current terms after the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December 2020.
The Government has stated that the agreement also sets out the UK and North Macedonia’s appetite for strengthening their future relationship with political, economic, security and cultural ties.
Ranil Jayawardena, International Trade Minister, said: “Free and fair trade is vital as we work to recover from the economic impact of coronavirus, and so I am delighted that today we’ve secured our trading relationship with North Macedonia.
“This agreement gives certainty for business in both countries and demonstrates our commitment to building on our strong trade ties with North Macedonia and the Western Balkans region.”
The agreement was signed on Thursday 3 December and signals the Government’s intention to step up its trade agreements process, with the UK set to leave the European Union (EU) in less than four weeks.
The UK has now signed or agreed in principle trade agreements with 54 countries, totalling 90 per cent of the trade value with Non-EU countries that they set out to secure through the trade continuity programme, with a total value of £166 billion in trade in 2019.
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