MRA’s to Support US-UK Trade Post-BREXIT

Support for a continuing flow of trade between the UK and US was penned on February14th by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney and Ambassador Kim Darroch, United Kingdom (UK) Ambassador to the United States, who signed two mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) covering telecom equipment, electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) for information and communications technology products, pharmaceutical good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections and marine equipment.

The MRAs with the UK replicate substantive provisions of existing MRAs between the United States and the European Union for these sectors and will ensure that U.S.-UK trade in these product sectors is not disrupted when the UK leaves the European Union. US exports to the UK of products covered by these agreements exceeded $5 billion in 2018.

As part of the US-UK Trade and Investment Working Group, the United States and the United Kingdom are working to ensure commercial continuity for UK and US businesses, workers and consumers as the UK leaves the EU. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress on October 16, 2018 of the Trump Administration’s intent to enter into trade negotiations with the UK once it leaves the EU.