EU trade policy & the UK

The UK and other European Union Member States have formed a single internal market with a customs union. The EU acts as a single trading bloc, with a common tariff on imports into the EU and a shared commercial policy towards non-EU countries. Trade policy is determined at the European level, through the Council of Ministers and expert committees, while the European Commission manages day-to-day trade policy. The Commission also represents EU Member States at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and in trade negotiations on the basis of mandates laid down by the Member States. This note outlines how EU trade policy is formulated, and some criticisms of the process. Intra-EU trade and UK/EU trade with the rest of the world is also summarised.