Trading with the UK

In a 2016 referendum, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. After years of negotiations, the UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020, with the transition period concluding on 31 December 2020. As of 1 January 2021, the UK and the EU have been trading under the terms of a new trade agreement. Since then, businesses have had to adapt to new regulations, customs procedures, and administrative requirements to facilitate trade between the two regions. Additionally, ongoing discussions and adjustments continue to shape the trading landscape as both parties respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.

Read the statement from the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK on Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Updated 26 September 2024

What is going on?

23 June 2016: the UK votes to leave the European Union in a referendum, with 52% of the votes.
29 March 2017: then Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, meaning that the UK was on course to leave the EU by the end of March 2019
24 July 2019: Theresa May officially resigns as Prime Minister, and Boris Johnson wins the Conservative Party leadership
12 December 2019: The Conservative Party wins on a sizeable majority in the House of Commons
31 January 2020: The UK officially left the European Union at 11pm GMT, beginning a transition period and negotiations on the future relationship
24 December 2020: The parties reach a long awaited agreement
1 January 2021: The end of the transition period, and the UK and the EU are trading in accordance with the new trade agreement

The UK has left the EU

As of 1 January 2021, the UK and the EU are trading in accordance with newly agreed trading terms, and the United Kingdom has left the EU’s single market. Businesses looking to trade between the two regions must now digest the agreement and consider what it means for their operations and cross-border trading.

For information on specific challenges and information for your respective sector or industry, you may find specific trade bodies a useful resource, as many of them provide Brexit guidance and advice tailored to your business’ specific needs. The UK Government’s “ Keep Business Moving” portal will continually be updated with useful information as the negotiations progress and new information emerges.

Do contact the Chamber if we can help guide you in the right direction, we are very happy to help.

UK Government on the new relationship

The United Kingdom has left the EU’s single market and is trading in accordance with the newly adopted UK-EU trade agreement.

Keep Britain Moving (A portal for business on trading with the UK from 1 January 2021, as a business based in the EU. This portal will be continually updated during the autumn as further information on the future relationship emerges).

Prepare to import goods from the EU to Great Britain

Prepare to export goods from Great Britain to the EU

New immigration system: what you need to know

Agreements reached between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union

The European Union and Swedish governments on the new relationship

EU: Forging a new partnership

Sweden: “Brexit och EU:s framtida relation med Storbritannien”

Sweden: National Board of Trade Sweden

Sweden: Embassy of Sweden’s theme page on citizen’s rights

Sweden: The Customs Agency’s theme page on “Brexit – what does it mean for Swedish trade?”

Events and training

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce has continually hosted Brexit related gatherings for its members, across all sectors and industries. From Brexit Town Halls to more intimate Brexit Breakfasts for various groups, these forums have offered an opportunity for businesses to update themselves, share experiences or find solutions to joint problems.

EU nationals should apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

If you’re an EU (Swedish as an example), EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status. Learn more and apply here.

The UK is still a key market for Swedish businesses – new survey confirms

Despite challenges at borders and additional paperwork involved when importing and exporting goods, Swedish businesses with a UK footprint are optimistic about their post-Brexit future, shows a new report from the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK. “Businesses are agile and see new local opportunities on the UK market. Almost 40% of businesses are optimistic about business growth and over 70% continue to see the UK as an important step in their international expansion strategy,” says Peter Sandberg, Managing Director at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK.

Learn more

5 March 2021

Webinar on the UK's new trading relationship with the EU

This webinar from 15 October 2020, gives you a broad picture of the state of the negotiations and its impact on the new relationship between the UK and the EU. Hear from our experts on their take on the state of play, and from businesses on how they’ve prepared over the past few years, what scenarios they have worked towards and how it’s expected to impact them.

Questions about Brexit?

Contact the SCC secretariat at info@scc.org.uk or 02072248001 if you have any questions regarding Brexit.