The United Kingdom has unveiled a new package of trade reforms aimed at boosting exports, creating jobs, and supporting long-term economic growth, in a move set to reshape the landscape of African trade and unlock new economic opportunities for Nigeria and the continent.
Announced on Wednesday, July 10, the measures, part of the UK’s flagship Trade for Development initiative, are designed to simplify access to the UK market for developing countries, strengthen trade relationships, and drive investment in key sectors.
The announcement also marks a strategic deepening of UK–Africa trade ties as part of Britain’s evolving post-Brexit global trade vision.
According to a statement by the British High Commission on Saturday, at the heart of the new reforms are upgraded rules of origin under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which will allow exporters in eligible African countries, including Nigeria, to source inputs from across the continent and still benefit from duty-free access to the UK market.
It noted that this simplifies the export process for manufacturers and producers whose supply chains stretch across borders and boosts the competitiveness of African-made products on the international stage.
The UK government says the move will support not only bilateral trade between African countries and the UK, but also intra-African trade, in alignment with the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a $3.4 trillion market initiative seeking to unify and grow commerce within Africa.
“The world is changing. Countries in the Global South want a different relationship with the UK, as a trading partner and investor, not as a donor.
“These new rules will make it easier for developing countries to trade more closely with the UK. This is good for their economies and for UK consumers and businesses”, said Jenny Chapman, UK Minister for Development.
“In 2023, over £3.2 billion worth of goods imported into the UK from African countries benefitted from preferences under Britain’s development trade agreements, a figure the UK government hopes to expand under the DCTS reforms”, the statement reads.
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Douglas Alexander, UK Minister for Trade Policy, echoed the importance of trade as a driver of prosperity:
“No country has ever lifted itself out of poverty without trading with its neighbours. Over recent decades, trade has been an essential ingredient in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty around the globe”, Alexander said.
For Nigerian exporters, the reforms could prove transformative. By simplifying rules of origin, the UK is effectively removing key bureaucratic barriers that often hinder access to global markets.
Exporters will now have more flexibility to use regional value chains, sourcing raw materials or intermediate goods from other African countries without losing tariff-free access.
According to the statement, the UK government is set to provide targeted support to help African exporters meet UK quality and safety standards, navigate customs procedures, and better integrate into global supply chains.
“This includes assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up the bulk of Nigeria’s non-oil export base.
“The reforms also extend beyond goods, with a focus on boosting services trade, including digital, legal, and financial services, through strengthened trade agreements.
“This aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing digital economy agenda and the growing importance of tech-driven services in the country’s economic diversification efforts”, the statement added.
According to the Commission, launched in 2023, the DCTS covers 65 countries and offers reduced or zero tariffs on thousands of products, building on the UK’s post-Brexit trade architecture.
“By promoting inclusive economic growth and expanding access to its markets, the UK is repositioning itself as a long-term partner to Africa, not just through aid, but through mutually beneficial trade and investment”, it noted.
