TRADE IN SERVICES AFTER BREXIT: LEGAL OPTION FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK) AND EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

Abstract

The decision made by a slight majority of voters in the United Kingdom (UK) to leave the European Union (EU)based on a non-binding referendum sent initial shockwaves across the globe. Consequently, the United Kingdomhas a significant challenge ahead since it will have to renegotiate a complex web of trade agreements built upover decades and this could be a starting point of new changes on trade in services agreements. This study aimsto outline some post-Brexit legal options for trade in services for United Kingdom and European Union. In doingso the paper looked at the United Kingdom legal framework for trade in services under European Union andUnited Kingdom trade in services with European Union under the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.Although the long-term consequences of Brexit will not become so clear for many years, this paper seeks to makereasonable recommendations as to what can be done to better the trade in services situation in a post Brexit erathat could benefits the United Kingdom, European Union and the world at large.