Research paper on the level playing field: EU-UK trade relations: why environmental policy regression will undermine the level playing field and what the UK can do to limit it

Andrew Jordan*, Viviane Gravey, Brendan Moore, Colin Reid

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportCommissioned report

Abstract

The so-called ‘level playing field’ has emerged as a make – or – break issue in the trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the UK.

In this research paper commissioned by the Friends of the Earth, Prof. Andrew Jordan, Dr Viviane Gravey, Dr Brendan Moore and Prof. Colin Reid explore how a playing field in international trade might or might not be considered ‘level’, and explain why the environment is perceived to be especially important in EU-UK trade negotiations. The paper explains why and how the EU has created a regulatory level playing field in environmental policy matters over the last 50 years and how the resulting harmonisation between the UK and EU could be disrupted if one side decides to raise its existing standards (policy progression) and/or reduce them (policy regression) after Brexit. Drawing on environmental policy examples, the authors consider four ways policy regression could happen, including ‘deregulation’, ‘by default, ‘symbolic’ and ‘arena-shifting’. But regression is not inevitable; the report identifies several positive strategies that the UK government could implement within and outside of any EU-UK framework agreement.
Original languageEnglish
Commissioning bodyFriends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Number of pages28
Publication statusPublished - 29 Sept 2020

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Research paper on the level playing field: EU-UK trade relations: why environmental policy regression will undermine the level playing field and what the UK can do to limit it'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this