Free trade agreements
The UK has already signed a number of free trade agreements, including with the EU and India. The initial agreements covered a variety of sectors but included no real detail on pharmaceuticals. Medicines UK would like to see both agreements evolve further and specifically address supply chain resilience and manufacturing investment.
European Union FTA
The government has already signalled it wants to continue to 'reset' its relationships with the EU, with talks to enhance trade cooperation anticipated to take place in 2026.
A wide range of sectors are understandably keen to be part of those discussions, but Medicines UK believes that medicines supply must be among those prioritised.
The EU is well advanced in its planning for a crisis or unexpected shock to supply via its Critical Medicines Act. As part of that work, it has signalled its desire to partner with countries which are politically and geographically aligned. The UK is an ideal candidate to become a strategic partner, and discussions on joining the planning should be a priority in any UK negotiations.
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