King's College London

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU), if and when it occurs, will likely imply that Canada must conclude a new bilateral trade agreement with the UK. In the light of recent trends towards an increasing politicization of trade negotiations, this policy brief assesses in which respects a Canada-UK agreement could become politically controversial. Drawing on explanations for the politicization of recent trade deals, it identifies potential flashpoints for political conflict in the Canada-UK trade relationship. It then discusses which options policy makers have to channel trade-related controversies into the policy process in a way that contributes to inclusive and evidence-based public debates.