Future trade deals and the National Health Service

Summary

One of the Government’s main Brexit objectives has been for the UK to pursue an independent trade policy. The Government’s policy is focused on replicating the existing EU trade agreements with third countries as closely as possible in UK stand-alone trade agreements with those countries. The Government is also exploring the options for new agreements with other trade partners. It has held consultations on future free trade agreements with the US, Australia, New Zealand as well as joining the Trans Pacific Partnership.

The effects of future trade agreements on the NHS, especially the consequences of agreeing a trade deal with the US, have been widely debated. There are particular concerns that trading terms agreed with other countries would limit the ability of the government and devolved administrations to organise and publicly fund their health services or change the way the public access NHS services.