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Overview
Due to Peru’s geography, the importance of renewable energy to both the Peruvian public and private sectors has grown significantly in the last decade. The Government of Peru has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost resilience to climate change across the economy. Key goals include to:
- limit GHG emissions by 30–40 percent by 2030 and become net carbon neutral by 2050
- implement 90 adaptation measures across critical sectors including water, health, fishing and aquaculture, agriculture, and forests
- develop a participatory Climate Change Strategy Towards 2050
Before 2004, 88% of domestic energy produced came from hydroelectric sources, but in recent years, natural gas has also become a significant contributor.
In the mining sector, the largest operators, such as Anglo American, have made commitments to reduce their carbon footprint. This is not limited to sustaining mines using renewable energy sources, but includes water and air pollution, tackling illegal mining, and removing threats to local and indigenous communities. For more information on CPTPP and mining in Peru, see our Peru mining explainer.
Agreements between the UK and Peru can provide an opportunity to enhance commercial ties between our two countries. The Free Trade Agreements (FTA) improve the business operating environment in areas such as investment, procurement and services that make it easier to trade and invest, as well as connect specialists across both countries to collaborate.
Trade agreements with Peru
The UK has 2 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Peru:
- the UK-Andean FTA which came into force on 1 January 2021
- the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement including 12 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK and Vietnam) which entered into force between the UK and Peru on 15 December 2024
The UK-Andean FTA must be read in conjunction with the following Parliamentary Report, as certain elements therein have undergone slight changes to adapt the existing agreement to the UK outside the EU.
This agreement will remain in force alongside CPTPP. At times, you will need to specify which agreement you choose to trade under (notably when applying rules of origin), but benefits from either agreement will mostly apply automatically. Our guides attempt to highlight where businesses may need to make an explicit decision.
CPTPP entry into force and ratification
As of 24 December 2024, CPTPP is in force between the UK and:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Chile
- Japan
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Singapore
- Vietnam
This means that the UK can access CPTPP provisions with said countries.
The following countries have not yet ratified the terms of the UK’s accession:
Canada and Mexico.
This means that the UK cannot yet access CPTPP provisions with those countries.
This guidance will be updated following each of the remaining countries’ ratification of the terms of the UK’s accession to CPTPP and will include when CPTPP will enter in force between the UK and the relevant remaining country.
Investment
UK and Peruvian investors benefit from increased transparency and simplification of investment administration.
The UK has had huge success in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the offshore wind sector, contributing to the delivery of our world-leading ambitions, and securing our energy supply.
A more detailed explanation on the Investment provisions and how it can help you can be found in our investment explainer.
Tariff-free energy products
Many energy products, such as nuclear reactor parts and wind turbines, receive a 0% Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff duty. When using MFN tariff duties, there is no need for businesses to prove their product is originating from the UK. Please visit the Check duties and customs procedures tool to find available tariffs for specific products.
The UK and Peru have committed to making trade administration documents, such as customs forms, available in electronic form and to accept electronic submissions of those documents. Paperless trading will reduce costs for UK technology businesses and will improve efficiency and transparency when exporting energy-related products to Peru.
The UK’s commitment to paperless trading was reinforced through the introduction of the Electronic Trade Documents Act in 2023, granting electronic trade documents the same legal status as paper trade documents. Find out more information about the Electronic Trade Documents Act on GOV.UK.
Digital products are also free from import tariffs. This includes apps, software and other electronic products traded between the UK and Peru. For instance, software to monitor energy efficiency systems is tariff-free to export.
For more information on tariffs and moving goods through customs, please see our Peru tariffs and customs explainer.
If you are importing goods from Peru, you can use the Trade Tariff Look up tool on GOV.UK to find the current list of goods and duty rates. There is also a step by step guide on how to import on GOV.UK.
Opportunities for digital trading
Electronic authentication and electronic signatures
Electronic signatures and electronic authentication increase trust in e-commerce by helping to verify that transactions, and the people behind them, are genuine. Strengthening the legal validity of electronic signatures provides greater confidence that transactions can be concluded through electronic means.
By using electronic signatures and/or electronic authentication, you can complete transactions in a matter of minutes regardless of where your counterpart is, reducing costs and simplifying processes.
CPTPP ensures that electronic signatures are considered valid by all CPTPP countries, and individuals and businesses can confidently use them.
However, CPTPP countries might impose specific criteria regarding electronic signatures, including some circumstances where electronic signatures are not accepted. You should check local regulations for more information.
You have the freedom to determine the best way of authenticating your transaction. However, for some transaction categories, there can be specific requirements.
Paperless trading
Paperless trading refers to the conduct of trade activities using electronic rather than paper documents. This reduces administrative costs and improves efficiency of processes, benefiting UK businesses across all sectors.
The UK and CPTPP countries are committed to facilitating the flow of trade activities using electronic trade documents.
CPTPP countries have committed to making trade administration documents available in electronic form and to accept electronic versions of those documents. This refers to documents which are required in connection with the import or export of a good and must be presented to customs authorities.
Beyond CPTPP, the UK also enables commercial trade documents that use English law to be accepted in electronic form. This includes documents such as bills of lading, promissory notes, and bills of exchange. This was enabled by the Electronic Trade Document Act.
This complements the commitments made on paperless trading related to trade administration documents required by the UK government or other CPTPP countries as part of the import-export process. Find more information about the UK’s Electronic Trade Documents Act.
Different countries are at different stages of legislating for paperless trading and trade digitalisation. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has created an interactive Model Law on Electronic Records (MLETR) tracker where you can view different countries’ progress.
Further information can be found in our trading digitally explainer.
Procurement
Government procurement opportunities allow you to sell goods or services to foreign governments and public bodies at the central and local level, including numerous opportunities in the technology sector.
The Organismo Supervisor de las Contrataciones del Estado (OSCE) supervises the public procurement processes carried out by State entities, so that they are complete, efficient and competitive. The Electronic State Contracting System (SEACE) provides access to procurement opportunities on goods and services.
When selling to the Peruvian government, interested suppliers must participate in a tender process, in which registration with the National Registry of Suppliers (Registro Nacional de Proveedores, or RNP) is necessary. The RNP includes the following categories:
- registry of goods suppliers
- registry of services providers
- registry of executors of works
- registry of works consultants
Bidding is best done through a local agent who is registered, well connected, and familiar with Peruvian government bidding procedures.
Services
You will be treated on a level playing field to Peruvian businesses (for sectors that are within scope), meaning you will operate under the same rules of Peruvian competitors. You are not required to have a business presence, such as a subsidiary or branch office, in Peru to provide services. This would allow, for example, you to provide consultancy services on an energy project in Peru from the UK, without being excluded for being UK-based.
The UK and Peru are encouraged to recognise one another’s professional qualifications where areas of mutual interest are identified. While decisions on recognition are for the Peruvian professional regulator to make, this could allow UK businesses greater access to the Peruvian market in areas such as engineering.
For further details please consult the relevant FTA chapters. For CPTPP, please see Chapter 10: Cross-border Trade in Services and Chapter 11: Financial Services (please note that this link directs you to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry which is responsible for the CPTPP agreement text). For the UK-Andean Countries agreement please see Title IV Trade in Services, Establishment, and Electronic Commerce.
For UK-Andean FTA, Peru’s market access schedule can be found in Annex VIII (List of Commitments on Cross-Border Supply of Services).
For CPTPP, Peru’s market access schedule can be found in Annex I-III (please note that this link directs you to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry which is responsible for the CPTPP agreement text).
Easier Business Travel
You have several visa options for both shorter and longer periods of stay to carry out business activities in Peru. This allows you to do activities such as negotiating contracts for training in person or travelling to Peru to provide design services.
In Peru, the following categories of UK business visitors are recognised:
- Business Visitors
- Intra-Corporate Transferees and Investors
- Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals
For more information, visit our business temporary entry mobility explainer.
Product regulation
Products sold in Peru must meet Peruvian product regulation requirements, regardless of whether they are exported to Peru under preferential tariff rates or not. While products will normally need to be shipped to Peru to undergo testing, UK based conformity assessment bodies are eligible to apply to conduct conformity assessments against Peruvian regulations. Having testing conducted in the UK may save time and money, by avoiding additional transportation costs.
Under the shared commitments under CPTPP, UK manufacturers of energy products may be able to have their products tested against Peruvian regulations in the UK in the future. UK conformity assessment bodies can apply for accreditation from the relevant Peruvian accreditation body or government body, to carry out conformity assessments in the UK against Peruvian regulations.
However, for those products requiring testing prior to market entry, the Instituto Nacional de Calidad (INCAL) maintains a virtual catalogue Peruvian technical standards and platform for accreditation bodies to register an application for accreditation.
For further information, see our product regulation and testing explainer.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. You may also be eligible for 1-2-1 support from a local International Trade Adviser. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access free training on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas
Useful resources
You can find more information about export opportunities, business culture and any existing trade barriers on our Peru market guide.
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in Peru that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
To seek further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer or distributor, you can use the following contacts:
- DBT’s Export Support Service International Markets team
- get in touch with DBT at the local British Embassy
- get in touch with the British Chambers of Commerce
For information on political, economic and security risks when trading with Peru, please see:
Note
This guidance contains data as reported by the UK from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data source for total trade: UK total trade data (seasonally adjusted). Users are advised to use UK-reported data where possible for consistency between partners. This data is subject to asymmetries for example, the value of UK exports to Peru (reported by the UK) may not match the value of Peruvian imports from the UK (reported by Peru). Data is in nominal terms, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for changes in inflation or exchange rate. The totals may not exactly match the sum of their parts due to rounding.