The government has opened a call for input on how the UK should deepen trade relationships with Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay, giving smaller exporters a chance to put practical evidence on the record before any future negotiations are shaped.
The Department for Business and Trade said it wants views from businesses, consumers, civil society and individuals as it considers how to engage with the four economies. That could include discussions linked to possible accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, known as CPTPP, or other trade policy routes such as bilateral free trade agreements where they are relevant.
The call for input closes on 14 September 2026. For small firms already selling overseas, or those considering these markets, the deadline matters because this is the stage where day-to-day commercial frictions can be raised before formal negotiating positions harden.
What the government is asking about
The UK is already a member of CPTPP, alongside Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The latest call for input is focused on Indonesia, the Philippines, the UAE and Uruguay, and asks for views on the opportunities, priorities and considerations that should guide the UK approach.
In practice, that means officials are looking for evidence on where stronger trade links could support exports, investment and growth, but also where businesses see barriers or risks. For SMEs, useful evidence may include customs delays, certification problems, digital trade issues, local procurement barriers, payment friction, professional services access, or practical difficulties in getting goods into a market at a competitive price.
Trade Minister Chris Bryant said the call for input would help businesses and consumers shape the UK approach to global trade and identify export opportunities. The government has framed the exercise as part of its wider growth agenda, with trade, investment and high-value jobs at the centre of the case for deeper international relationships.
Why this matters for smaller firms
Large exporters often have trade teams, local advisers and established routes into government consultations. Smaller businesses are less likely to respond, even when the issues affect them directly. That can leave policy shaped around the problems of bigger firms, while the more basic operational obstacles faced by SMEs are under-represented.
For a manufacturer, that might mean product standards, labelling rules or testing requirements that make a modest overseas order uneconomic. For a software or professional services firm, the issue might be data transfer, recognition of qualifications, local licensing, tax administration or restrictions on selling to public sector buyers. For an online retailer, payment costs, returns, consumer rules and customs paperwork may be the difference between a viable market and one that is too complex to serve.
The UAE is already a significant commercial hub for many UK companies, while Indonesia and the Philippines offer large and growing consumer markets. Uruguay is smaller, but can be relevant for firms looking at Latin American supply chains, services or specialist goods. The key question for SMEs is not whether a market sounds attractive in general, but whether future trade arrangements could remove enough friction to make selling there realistic.
What SMEs should do now
Businesses do not need a full policy paper to contribute. A short, evidence-led response can still be useful if it explains the market, the product or service, the barrier encountered, and the commercial impact. Specific examples are stronger than broad calls for “more support”.
A small exporter could start by listing the practical obstacles it has faced in any of the four markets, or the reasons it has held back from entering them. That may include extra paperwork, unclear rules, high compliance costs, local partner requirements, shipping delays, tariffs, duplicated testing, weak intellectual property protection, difficulty recovering payments or uncertainty around after-sales support.
Firms should also say what would change their decision-making. For example, a business might explain that clearer digital documentation, mutual recognition of certain standards, simpler customs processes or better market access for services would make it more likely to export, hire, invest or seek a distributor.
Trade bodies, chambers of commerce and local business groups may also want to gather evidence from members, especially where individual firms are too busy to respond in detail. That can help ensure smaller employers in manufacturing, retail, food and drink, creative services, consultancy and technology are not drowned out by larger corporate submissions.
The practical takeaway
The call for input is not a promise that a new trade deal will follow quickly, or that every barrier raised by business will be removed. It is an early evidence-gathering stage. But for SMEs with a real interest in Indonesia, the Philippines, the UAE or Uruguay, it is a timely opportunity to explain what would make exporting easier and what would make future trade policy more useful on the ground.
Small firms should review recent enquiries, abandoned export leads and customer conversations in those markets, then decide whether they have evidence worth submitting before 14 September. A focused response based on real commercial experience is more valuable than a long generic submission.
Sources
GOV.UK: UK launches Call for Input on deepening trade relationships
