\n Aleksandra Cupriak <\/a><\/p>\n
The first tariff-free shipment of British beef has arrived in the United States, coinciding with the launch of the UK\u2019s first dedicated agri-food trade mission to Washington, DC, DEFRA has confirmed.<\/p>\n
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Stock photo.<\/p>\n
The department explained that the trade mission is set to build on a milestone of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, where both countries agreed to implement a reciprocal 13,000-tonne\u00a0quota for beef. \u00a0<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for DEFRA said: \u201cThe quota is a major growth opportunity for British farmers, worth up to \u00a370 million a year if fully utilised.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to the deal, the first-ever\u00a0tariff-free shipment of UK beef under the quota has now arrived in the US from Northern Ireland\u2019s biggest red meat\u00a0exporter,\u00a0Foyle Food Group,\u00a0which employs\u00a01,150 people in the UK. Valued at more than \u00a3190,000, the agreement will see nearly\u00a0\u00a350,000 in\u00a0tariff relief to this landmark shipment alone \u2013 easing costs for businesses and supporting growth back home.\u201d\u00a0<\/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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
British food\u2019s reputation for high quality and standards<\/p>\n
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: \u201cThe UK produces the finest food and drink, and I\u2019m proud to champion our world-leading farmers, producers and exporters on the global stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first agri-trade mission will seize on British food\u2019s reputation for highquality 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The DEFRA secretary will be joined by key UK industry figures on her mission, including representatives from the NFU, the AHDB, Foyle Food Group, the International Meat Trade Association and the Scotch Whisky Association.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Environment](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Aleks-14-2.jpg.webp.jpeg\")
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds, photo by NFU.<\/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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reynolds MP 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Delegates from the Scotch Whisky Association will have\u00a0an opportunity\u00a0to get their products in front of US buyers, championing one of the UK\u2019s most iconic spirits in a market with strong consumer demand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Emma Reynolds\u00a0announces \u00a3345m boost for farm innovations and reveals new SFI offer<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s delivering real results\u2019<\/p>\n Business and Trade secretary Peter Kyle added: \u201cFor 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/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.\u00a0<\/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, DEFRA confirmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n