One interesting aspect from a European point of view. There are quite a few free trade agreements in place between the EU and several Non-EU countries and regions, such as the:
EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
Additional free trade agreements also exist between the EU and Canada (CETA), Japan (EPA), South Korea and Vietnam (EVFTA). All existing agreements are available on this EU website:
https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/relations-non-eu-countries_en
Those agreements offer many benefits for exports out of the EU, but also for imports into EU countries. Main benefits are simplified customs procedures and reduced or even fully cancelled import duties for many / most industrial products!
Needless to say, for military equipment and or related defense projects you would still need to apply for a license!
The way they are being handled for EU companies is by using the company status of “Authorized Exporter / Ermaechtigter Ausfuehrer EA” and as a supplement the “Registered Exporter / Registrierter Ausfuehrer REX”. The status of EA / REX allows issuing of “declarations of origin / Urprungserklärungen” for the respective products. And those in return give many benefits to the exporting and the receiving party of the goods.
Such kind of regulation – I’m sure – must also exist in the UK, since the TCA is a bilateral agreement (so are the others of course).
