This briefing paper, developed by the Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU), discusses the potential health, well-being and equity impacts of trade tariffs on the Welsh population. It is aimed at stakeholders in Wales working in the areas of trade, public health and health services to support them to better understand the potential impacts that trade tariffs can have on population health.
It begins with a brief introduction to trade agreements and to tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. It then outlines the most recent trade deals the United Kingdom (UK) has signed up to before discussing how tariffs can affect population health, well-being and equity in Wales. It concludes with some options on how health and well-being can be better considered in trade agreements and identifying the impacts of tariffs. Finally, it presents two case study examples of how trade can impact the people and economy in Wales.