"Comparative Analysis of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Lessons from CETA and the Ukrainian Model"

Abstract

This dissertation compares the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) against the backdrop of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. To provide some general lessons about future EU trade policies, this paper compares and contrasts these agreements' structure, goals, and impacts. Examining the three models, it is possible to identify that the TCA stresses regulatory independence and self-reliance after Brexit, CETA encourages deep economic integration and investment protection and, finally, the Ukrainian one stipulates the political association with adherence to the EU legislation. The research also reveals that for trade agreements to be effective, adequate and efficient measures for managing disputes must be established, proper regulations must be set, and a good governance system must be established. From the analysis results, the following policy recommendations for TCA improvement are proposed in the dissertation: improving governance structures and increasing the intensity of regulatory cooperation. It also underlines the broader consequences for the upcoming EU trade cooperation, stresses sensibility on the flexibility, the relationship between the legislation and the regulation, and the relation between integration and sovereignty. Finally, the study provides recommendations for future research on the following topics: digital trade, environment, GVCs, and trade agreements to fill the gaps created by emerging issues in international trade relations.