ISDA has published a paper recommending that the EU and the UK recognize the equivalence of each other’s derivatives trading venues in order to mitigate the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. If appropriate equivalence decisions are not in place by the end of the transition period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK (the transition period), there will be significant issues for counterparties subject to the derivatives trading obligation (DTO) and other requirements under derivatives legislation in both the EU and the UK. The lack of such equivalence decisions is also likely to exacerbate the fragmentation of liquidity in over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets between the EU and the UK resulting from Brexit.

The paper explains that equivalence is the best solution for addressing conflicts and avoiding such fragmentation, by setting out the limitations of the other mitigating actions that have been proposed in the event that equivalence is not granted.

Click on the attached PDF to read the letter in full.