GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026

EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) – Chapter TBT

An exporter shipping industrial machinery from the EU to the United Kingdom for the first time quickly runs into the practical implications of the TBT Chapter of the EU–UK TCA.

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Last updated: 18 June 2026Published: 22 November 2025

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/united-kingdom/

Category

Logistics Concept

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1 min

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131

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Definition & Explanation

An exporter shipping industrial machinery from the EU to the United Kingdom for the first time quickly runs into the practical implications of the TBT Chapter of the EU–UK TCA. TBT stands for Technical Barriers to Trade and covers how product standards, safety requirements, and conformity assessment procedures are harmonized or mutually recognized between the two markets. The central challenge is the coexistence of two marking regimes: goods destined for the EU typically require CE marking, while the UK market demands UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) certification for many product categories. The chapter provides for sectoral equivalence arrangements and facilitations, but manufacturers and importers of electrical equipment, chemicals, or medical devices often cannot avoid maintaining dual conformity documentation. Verifying certification requirements before shipment is essential to prevent border delays and market-access issues.