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ARTICLE · 10 APRIL 2026

Q2 2026 – UK Merger Control And National Security/Investment Screening Update

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2025 proved to be a year of major overhaul for the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Indeed, since the introduction of its 4Ps framework—designed to improve pace, predictability...

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Davina Garrod
Davina Garrod
Scott Pettifor
Scott Pettifor
Aaron Brooks
Aaron Brooks
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The UK Merger Control Framework Continues to Evolve in 2026

2025 proved to be a year of major overhaul for the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Indeed, since the introduction of its 4Ps framework—designed to improve pace, predictability, proportionality and process—the CMA has implemented (or begun implementing) around 75 reforms. 2026 is already shaping up to be a year of further reforms; if not driven by the CMA itself, then by the UK government’s efforts to ensure that the UK competition framework continues to deliver on its objectives, including promoting effective competition and, increasingly importantly, supporting economic growth in the UK.

On 20 January 2026, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) published its consultation focused on proposed reforms to the UK competition regime (the Consultation),1 following the UK government’s earlier commitment to “re-energise the regulatory system”. Key proposals in the Consultation, which build on these previous

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