Health, Climate, Energy and Cyber: Transnational Areas, Limited Cooperation Ambitions?

Elaine Fahey (City, University of London), Health, Climate, Energy and Cyber: Transnational Areas, Limited Cooperation Ambitions? (Brexit Inst. Working Paper, No. 6/2023) (2023):

There are arguably few genuine multilateral engagements in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), with foreign policy omitted and generally evidence of limited ambitions. There are also limited commitments to international regulatory cooperation in the TCA, unusually for an EU trade agreement in contrast with many other major economies. The chapter contrasts international qua transnational cooperation objectives provided for in the TCA as to cyber, health, energy, climate, embodying areas presenting significant global challenges. The general lack of ambition is a key feature of the TCA. As a result, it is difficult to see the TCA as a model for the transnational in any sense. On the other hand, the TCA is clearly a modern and contemporary agreement that deploys a contemporary lexicon as to trade, concluded in a rushed and highly politicised environment and where its aims and objectives need to be viewed in such a light.