Call to action: Developing a framework for an EU-UK mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment
The relationship between the EU and the UK is entering a critical new phase. As both parties seek practical steps to build on the 2025 Common Understanding, a distinct strategic opportunity emerges for the parties to show a commitment to enhancing economic and regulatory cooperation and reduce unnecessary barriers to trade. The practical reality of the current trading relationship can present challenges for businesses seeking to place products on both markets, with increased risks of duplicative regulatory product testing and certification requirements. This would bring heavier financial and administrative burden than necessary on companies supplying goods to both the EU and UK markets. The EU and the UK already successfully leverage the international multilateral agreements on accreditation with their respective global partners through bilateral trading relationships, such as Canada and Japan, to reduce these costs. However, there is no mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment between the EU and the UK. This could force exporters, and ultimately consumers, to absorb the severe administrative overhead of duplicative evaluations, inflating production costs and degrading the global competitiveness of the EU's own industrial outputs. Therefore, both parties should establish a formal framework to negotiate a mutual recognitionagreement on conformity assessment. Thisrepresents a pragmatic, mutually beneficial arrangement, that shows a commitment to deepening the trading relationship and address existing challenges faced by industry on both sides.