UK food and farming take centre stage this week after the first tariff\u2011free shipment of British beef arrived in the US, alongside the launch of the UK\u2019s first dedicated agri\u2011food trade mission to Washington DC.<\/p>\n
The trade mission will build on a milestone of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, where both countries agreed to implement a reciprocal 13,000 tonne quota for beef. The quota is a major growth opportunity for British farmers, worth up to \u00a370 million a year if fully utilised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thanks to the deal, the first ever tariff-free shipment of UK beef under the quota has now arrived in the US from Northern Ireland\u2019s biggest red meat exporter Foyle Food Group, who employ 1,150 people in the UK. Valued at more than \u00a3190,000, the agreement will see nearly \u00a350,000 tariff relief to this landmark shipment alone \u2013 easing costs for businesses and supporting growth back home.<\/p>\n
The UK\u2019s food and drink exports were worth over \u00a325 billion globally last year, \u00a32 billion of which went to the US, with considerable potential to grow the UK\u2019s global trade.<\/p>\n
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:<\/p>\n
The UK produces the finest food and drink, and I\u2019m proud to champion our world-leading farmers, producers and exporters on the global stage.<\/p>\n
I am leading the first ever dedicated agri-food trade mission to the US to pursue opportunities to grow our trade with the largest consumer market in the world.<\/p>\n
The first agri-trade mission will seize on British food\u2019s reputation for high quality and standards, taking the very best of the UK\u2019s largest manufacturing sector directly to America\u2019s buyers, businesses and decision-makers. In a market of more than 300 million people, the visit will turn international prestige into real commercial opportunity for UK farmers and food producers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Environment Secretary will be joined by key UK industry figures on her mission, including representatives from the National Farmers\u2019 Union, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Foyle Food Group, the International Meat Trade Association and the Scotch Whisky Association.<\/p>\n
She will attend the US Annual Meat Conference to support five of the UK\u2019s largest meat exporters and discuss opportunities for growing the US market, flying the flag for UK meat among American buyers.<\/p>\n
Reynolds will then host a major Food and Drink Showcase reception at the Ambassador\u2019s Residence, bringing together UK exporters and buyers to sample premium beef alongside other world-class British products such as cheese, seafood, spirits and English sparkling wine.<\/p>\n
Delegates from the Scotch Whisky Association will have opportunity to get their products in front of US buyers, championing one of the UK\u2019s most iconic spirits in a market with strong consumer demand.<\/p>\n
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:<\/p>\n
For the first time, UK beef farmers have exclusive access to a market of over 300 million people, and that is a direct result of the deal we struck with the US last year.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just symbolic \u2014 it\u2019s delivering real results. British beef is world-class, and American consumers deserve access to it. I look forward to seeing more of our farmers seize this opportunity and grow their businesses on the international stage.<\/p>\n
Michael Acheson, Business Development at Foyle Food Group, said:<\/p>\n
Foyle Food Group is delighted that the UK has secured a 13,000 metric tonne quota for British beef in the United States through the new UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.<\/p>\n
This agreement provides tariff-free access to the world\u2019s largest beef market. For Foyle Food Group, it means we can now offer British beef to a wide range of customers across the United States. Securing this dedicated UK quota for the first time also allows us to build longer-term business relationships and provide a more consistent and reliable supply into the US market.<\/p>\n
The trade mission also kickstarts the government\u2019s ambition to act on Baroness Batters\u2019 Farming Profitability Review, which identified expanding export opportunities as essential to supporting farm businesses to improve profitability and driving economic growth across every part of the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n