UK Upgrades Trade Scheme To Boost Imports, Support Developing Countries
British consumers and businesses are set to benefit from new trade measures under an upgraded Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), aimed at lowering prices on everyday goods and supporting jobs and growth in developing nations.
Announced on July 10th, the reforms will simplify imports from countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, enabling tariff-free access even when goods include components from across Asia and Africa.
The updates, part of the UK’s Trade Strategy and Plan for Change include simplified rules of origin, ensuring continued zero tariffs on key products like garments and electronics. The UK will also provide targeted support to help exporters in developing countries meet standards, and expand access to UK markets for services like digital, legal, and financial services, creating new opportunities for British businesses.
Since the DCTS launch in June 2023, over £16 billion in UK imports have benefited from tariff savings. Major UK retailers such as Marks & Spencer and Primark welcomed the changes, saying the reforms ensure supply chain stability and maintain vital partnerships in key sourcing markets like Bangladesh and Cambodia.
Industry leaders, including the UK Fashion & Textiles Association (UKFT) and Sri Lanka’s Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), also praised the government’s commitment to modernising trade policy and supporting equitable global trade.
The changes were formally introduced at a joint Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) event in London, where Ministers reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to strengthening global partnerships and growing trade with emerging markets.
