What is a 'trade deal'

[Deleted User]

I'm reading now that a post Brexit trade deal could take 10 years to finalise, but what exactly is involved in this? The private company I work for chooses its potential customers and markets, be that domestic, European, or global. As far as I know there's no political involvement in this, and nothing seems to hold us back in approaching customers.
So what exactly is a 'trade deal', and how would it impact companies in the UK? Is it specific to particular industries?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38324146

 

[zuben el genub]

It might be the riders to the deal that you don't see.

With the Trans Pacific, some were up in arms over the length of copyright agreed to.
Might make it harder to get generic anything. More money in the main players pockets.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-interview-globalisation-climate-change-trump