U.K. Revives Thatcher-Era Freeports in Bid to Stimulate Trade

The Plymouth port area that includes South Yard, the site of the Devonport freeport in Plymouth, U.K.

Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg

Nothing saps British trade experts’ enthusiasm like freeports.

In a rabbit-out-of-his-hat moment in his first post-Brexit budget last week, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak revealed the eight English ports that will become low-tariff zones.