A Brexit benefit? Exploring devolved government’s involvement in UK trade policy

The United Kingdom’s ability to conduct an independent trade policy post-Brexit fuelled concerns in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about the potential absence of devolved administrations’ voice in the negotiation of new trade agreements. Based on analysis of our novel database of UK trade agreements, supplemented by elite interviews, this article assesses provisions for, and practices of, devolved involvement in UK trade policy post-Brexit. Drawing on policy style literature it finds a clear change in consultation practices between central and devolved governments and a rare example of effective UK intergovernmental relations, but one that stops short of a deeper shift away from the Westminster model policy style.