Importing to the UK

The UK has become a globally independent trade actor post-Brexit, developing its own network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Digital Economy Agreements. Its policies emphasize reducing barriers for high-tech goods and services, ensuring robust data flow, and protecting intellectual property.

The country’s diversified economy—spanning fintech, AI, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing—makes it a leading exporter of high-value technology services. Governed by uniform legislation on trade, competition, and digital regulation, the UK also maintains comprehensive tax systems, including a national VAT regime.

The Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey) are self-governing jurisdictions with autonomy over fiscal, trade, and digital regulation. They are not part of the UK or the EU but maintain a close constitutional relationship with the UK, including participation in a shared customs and VAT arrangement under the UK–CD Customs Union.

These islands specialize in financial services, fintech, aerospace, and e-gaming, leveraging their stable political environments and competitive 0% corporate tax regimes to attract tech-based investment. Their digital economies thrive on providing infrastructure and services that support offshore finance, intellectual property management, and digital entertainment sectors.

The Overseas Territories (e.g., Gibraltar, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Saint Helena, BVI, Anguilla, Falkland Islands, Turks and Caicos) possess even greater trade and fiscal autonomy, setting their own customs tariffs, import duties, and product standards. They are outside both the UK and EU customs and VAT areas, although their goods enjoy tariff-free access to the UK market.

Each territory’s economy is highly specialized and their low- or zero-tax environments and independent regulatory frameworks make them appealing hubs for global investment and technology-driven financial operations, though Brexit has increased their exposure to EU trade barriers.