In May 2025, the UK government announced a series of significant trade agreements with the European Union, the United States, and India. These deals aim to bolster the UK economy by reducing trade barriers, enhancing market access, and fostering international collaboration. While these developments present substantial opportunities, they also introduce complexities in compliance, traceability, and supply chain management. Authenticate is uniquely positioned to assist businesses in navigating these changes, ensuring seamless adaptation to the new trade landscape.
Key Trade Agreements and Their Implications
- UK–EU Trade Agreement: This “reset” deal seeks to revitalise UK-EU relations post-Brexit. It includes provisions for easing agrifood trade barriers, aligning food standards, and reintroducing the UK into programs like Erasmus. The agreement is projected to add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040
- UK–US Economic Prosperity Deal: This historic agreement removes tariffs on British steel and aluminium and provides market access for British farmers. It is expected to create a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers.
- UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The FTA significantly lowers duties on imported spirits, such as Scotch whisky, and is anticipated to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, boosting UK GDP by £4.8 billion annually in the long run.
Challenges for Businesses
These agreements, while beneficial, introduce challenges:
- Regulatory Divergence: Differing standards between the EU, US, and India necessitate meticulous compliance management.
- Supply Chain Complexity: Increased market access requires enhanced traceability and supplier assurance across diverse regions.
- Dynamic Regulatory Environments: Frequent changes in international regulations demand real-time monitoring and adaptability.
How Authenticate Supports Businesses
Authenticate offers comprehensive solutions to address these challenges:
- Multi-Market Compliance Management: Our platform allows businesses to track supplier compliance against multiple standards, with configurable alerts and audits tailored to destination market requirements.
- Traceability and Supplier Assurance: Gain end-to-end visibility of your supply chain, including origins, processors, and transport, with custom risk profiles based on geography and product type.
- Dynamic Regulation Monitoring: Stay ahead of regulatory changes with a centralised dashboard, API integrations, and alerts that flag when changes may impact existing supplier data.
- Audit and Documentation Support: Maintain digital audit trails with instant report generation and a central repository of supplier certifications to support due diligence under UK law and international agreements.
- ESG and Sustainability Reporting: Utilise our ESGnius module to benchmark and improve environmental, social, and governance performance, supporting retail partnerships, tender responses, and marketing claims.
As the UK embarks on a new era of global trade, businesses must adapt to a complex and dynamic environment. Authenticate provides the tools and insights necessary to navigate these changes, ensuring compliance, enhancing supply chain transparency, and fostering sustainable growth.
Partner with us to build smarter, safer supply chains that can withstand the pressures of today’s evolving trade landscape.
For more information on how Authenticate can support your business, book your demo today.