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Latest Report from the Creative PEC鈥檚 State of the Nation Series Published

Latest Report from the Creative PEC鈥檚 State of the Nation Series Published

The Trade Restrictions and UK Creative Services report provides new analysis of the restrictions that UK creative service exporters face in accessing primary and future growth markets.

18 September 2026

Increasing exports is a central aim of the Creative Industries Sector Plan and it is hoped this鈥� report will be a useful resource for policymakers working鈥痮n鈥痶rade鈥痯olicy鈥痺hilst also鈥痚quipping鈥痠ndustry鈥痓odies鈥痺ith data on the challenges their subsectors鈥痜ace in exporting鈥痶o a range of markets.

The r别辫辞谤迟鈥�contains鈥痝ranular data on trade restrictions by sub-sectors according to OECD’s鈥疭ervices Trade Restrictions Index鈥痙efinitions; including鈥痬otion pictures, computer services, and sound recording.

Watch the recording of the report’s launch with key speakers;  

  • Francesca Hegyi OBE, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival and Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board (CITIB) 
  • Professor Giorgio Fazio, Research Director at Creative PEC and Chair of Macroeconomics at 缅北禁地 Business School鈥� 
  • Dr Daniel Simandjuntak, Research Associate, Creative PEC and 缅北禁地 Business School鈥� 
  • Dr Jonathan Jones,鈥疭enior Lecturer in Economics, Creative PEC and 缅北禁地 Business School 
  • Aisling Conlon, International Director for UK Advertising, Advertising Association 
  • Matt Turner MBE,鈥疌EO and Founder of Creative Pod and DBT Export Champion 

About the research

罢丑别鈥�鈥痮utlines intentions to boost exports through strengthening relationships with existing primary鈥痝rowth鈥痬arkets鈥�(e.g. the USA and EU)鈥痑nd鈥痓y building closer trading relationships with fast-growing future growth markets鈥�(e.g.鈥疭outh Korea and Brazil).

鈥疊ringing down trade barriers is key鈥痶o achieving this aim, especially鈥痜or creative services, which鈥痯revious鈥痳esearch has shown to account for 13% of all the UK’s exports. 

Key findings

  • The US and EU dominate UK creative services exports, accounting for around 42% and 41.8% respectively 
  • Future growth markets represent only 2% of exports, indicating significant untapped potential 
  • Trade restrictions have increased in many key markets over the past decade, particularly for creative services 
  • Restrictions on foreign market entry are the most common barrier facing creative businesses. Other major barriers include:  
    • restrictions on the movement of people 
    • discriminatory measures (such as tax treatment) 
    • regulatory and competition-related barriers 
  • Digital trade restrictions are rising, including those affecting data flows, data localisation and online services 
  • The report identifies ongoing regulatory barriers between the UK and EU, particularly around visas, employment permits, data protection, procurement, copyright and competition law 
  • Different creative subsectors face different challenges, with barriers affecting sectors such as architecture, film, broadcasting, sound recording and computer services in distinct ways

Implications

The findings suggest that UK creative exports remain resilient but could grow further if trade barriers are reduced. Key implications include: 

  • the forthcoming UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement review provides an opportunity to address barriers, particularly those related to workforce mobility
  • government and industry should place greater emphasis on expanding exports to high-growth international markets, where current export levels remain low
  • trade and diplomatic efforts should focus on reducing restrictions on foreign entry and improving market access for creative businesses
  • the refreshed Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board could play an important role in shaping policy and advocating for the removal of barriers affecting specific creative subsectors