Joint statement of the Department for Business and Trade of the UK and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany: bilateral co-operation on economic security
Published 27 April 2026
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Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions that significantly affect international value chains and the global economic order, we are committed to step up and deepen the bilateral co-operation between our 2 countries on strengthening economic security in Europe. In this regard, we wish to recognise the forthcoming first UK-German Economic Security Dialogue under the framework of the Kensington Treaty on Friendship and Bilateral Co-operation, to be held in the coming weeks in Berlin.
The cross-departmental dialogue will be led by senior officials from our respective economic and foreign ministries and involve further departments. In accordance with Article 14 of the Kensington Treaty, it will establish the groundwork and set out a clear roadmap for our deepened co-operation to tangibly strengthen our mutual economic security.
We welcome the first bilateral UK-Germany Critical Minerals Policy Exchange, held on 23 April 2026 in Berlin, which sets the stage for our joint action across the entirety of the economic security landscape. In particular, we commit to co-operate on supply chain resilience, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure, as well as relevant protective tools such as investment screening policies.
Moreover, we commit to enhance co-operation on economic security matters in relevant international fora and will expand our bilateral engagement in fostering our ecosystems for critical and emerging technologies, promoting secure and resilient growth, and preventing technology leakage.
We have instructed our teams to meet at least annually to monitor progress in the various policy areas and to consider new initiatives including possibilities for further co-operation. This deepened economic security relationship between our governments will help:
- protect our businesses, workers and consumers from supply chain disruptions
- strengthen our industrial bases and international partnerships
- shield us against the weaponisation of critical dependencies
- ensure that our trade and investment activities, critical infrastructure and technological capabilities are better protected from external threats
For Germany, this deepened co-operation is firmly embedded in the European economic security framework and aims at aligning with and complementing the existent comprehensive collaboration across sectors between the European Union (EU) and the UK. Our co-operation aims at contributing to a secure, resilient and prosperous Europe and is intended to bolster the strategic partnership between the UK and the EU.
For the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and President of the Board of Trade: Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle
For the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany: Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katherina Reiche