Highlights from the EU–UK summit in London

Fergus McReynolds, Director EU & International at The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, breaks down the outcomes of the May 2025 EU–UK summit in London and what they mean for trade compliance professionals on both sides of the Channel.

Topics covered:

• The political declaration, the new EU–UK Security and Defence Partnership, and the "Common Understanding" roadmap built on the existing Trade and Cooperation Agreement
• The heads of terms for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, its territorial and "farm to fork" scope, and realistic timelines for conclusion and entry into force
• What the SPS agreement will and will not remove in terms of customs controls, certifications and the UK–EU customs border
• Energy cooperation and the prospect of linking the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes, and its knock-on effect on CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) obligations
• Expected timing of CBAM-related requirements for UK exporters/EU importers, and the mitigating role of the EU's Omnibus simplification package for SMEs
• Youth mobility and business/services mobility provisions agreed in outline
• The likelihood (or not) of transitional "bridging" arrangements before a final agreement, and possible knock-on effects for the UK's Border Target Operating Model timetable

For a broader overview of the topic, please watch the full recording. The slides are available in the Resources section.

Please note that this summary was generated using AI, based on the recording and available slides.