A summary of the main existing models for trade between the EU and other countries. Following the UK referendum on EU membership held on 23 June 2016, these were discussed as potential models for the future UK-EU trade relationship.

This note is no longer maintained. The UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement started to apply on a provisional basis at the end of the transition period. This is an association agreement, which contains in Heading One, Part Two (Trade) what is essentially a free trade agreement between the UK and the EU. The other models discussed in this note gave an idea of the UK's other options at an earlier stage in the negotiations.

For more information on the future relationship agreements, see Practice notes, Future UK-EU relationship agreements and UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement: overview of Part Two on trade and other arrangements, UK legal change post-transition and UK-EU agreements toolkit: Future UK-EU relationship, and Brexit materials: Future UK-EU relationship.