Insights

In June 2025, the European Commission adopted its first-ever measures under the International Procurement Instrument Regulation (IPI), restricting access to the EU public procurement market for medical devices for economic operators and medical devices from the People’s Republic of China. This is the first application of the IPI, a new trade instrument aimed at tackling lack of reciprocity in access to public procurement in third countries.

The UK’s increased defence spending and zero-tariff trade on aircraft parts with the US is generating broad interest in the UK defence sector.

On 18 September, during the anticipated state visit, the leaders of the UK and the US signed the Technology Prosperity Deal, which promises to boost investment and cooperation to foster innovation, security, and economic prosperity. This is being lauded in the UK as a hugely significant milestone in transatlantic cooperation. The governments of both countries have released a Memorandum of Understanding (“Memo”) which covers a number of ambitious plans in strategic science and technology fields, including artificial intelligence (“AI”), nuclear energy, fusion, and quantum technologies.