The UK’s path to EU equivalence: détente or detour?

Race to meet post-Brexit cross-border trading requirements will go down to the wire

Image: Stephen Lee, NB Illustration

In post-Brexit Europe, the UK’s ability to retain direct trading and execution relationships with European Union firms hinges on 40 separate equivalence determinations – some vital, others merely desirable – but all against the clock.

The critical decisions that will pave the way for these determinations are likely to go down to the wire. Despite non-binding commitments from both sides to conclude assessments by June, final decisions about the UK’s level of access may well be deferred until the