AHDB Red Meat Export Conference spotlights UK trade with EU and US

Delegates at the AHDB Red Meat Export Conference in Butchers’ Hall, London, heard about its international trade development support for levy payers, its focus on the EU as a priority over the next year and how the potential UK/EU SPS Agreement would play a pivotal role in that. 

Protecting exports in a volatile market

Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP opened the conference with a video message in which she highlighted the importance of international trade to the industry, with exports of beef, veal, pig meat lamb and mutton topping £2 billion for the first time in 2025. She said that the conference was an opportunity to “come together to drive exports” with the aim of working towards new markets, maximising the access the UK already has and protecting UK exports in an increasingly volatile global market.

“If there’s one key enabler to export growth, it is market access. Without it, even the highest quality product cannot reach its potential.”

Emily Norton, AHDB

Addressing delegates, AHDB chair Emily Norton emphasised the global reputation of British red meat, which positions the UK strongly in the global marketplace, but added: “If there’s one key enabler to export growth, it is market access. Without it, even the highest quality product cannot reach its potential, and that is why the work being done to open new markets and maintain access to existing markets, reduce barriers and negotiate favourable terms is so important.”

Norton outlined the following priorities for AHDB in the year ahead:

• Continue to strengthen market access.
• Collaboration between AHDB, industry and Government.
• Promote what makes British red meat distinctive: quality, standards and provenance.
• Remain agile in order to adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

The conference provided delegates with insight into market conditions with presentations from AHDB analysts and a view of the future of British red meat in the US from Will Surman, UK Agriculture Attaché to the US, and Kent Bacus, executive director, Government affairs, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as well as expert examination of the wider market access opportunities presented by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement.

EU trade remains crucial for red meat exports

Updates on the UK/EU SPS agreement came from Annette Kliemann, first counsellor, agriculture and food at the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom, and Louise Leighton-McTague, deputy director, border readiness for animals, plants and associated products at Defra.

Leighton-McTague confirmed that SPS negotiations are reaching their final stages and acknowledged that businesses need clear information in order to plan ahead, saying that Defra would aim to release updates as early as possible, referencing recent information for businesses published in March and May this year.

Speaking to the conference, Jonathan Eckley, AHDB international trade development director, said that while it was important for the red meat sector to access and trade to as broad a portfolio of markets as possible, the EU will continue to play a crucial role moving forwards. He commented: “International trade development and supporting the red meat sector to thrive on the global stage is one of the cornerstones of AHDB’s work.

“The reputation and appetite for our world-class produce is undoubtedly a major success story, with the value of UK red meat exports topping £2 billion last year. That global appetite is a testament to the hard work of our farmers and our export businesses delivering world-class produce that continues to thrive in multiple markets.”

“The EU remains our largest market for red meat, and its importance to the sector can’t be stressed enough.”

Jonathan Eckley, AHDB

Eckley continued: “It remains vital to maintain a wide portfolio of markets to maximise carcase utilisation. However, the EU remains our largest market for red meat, and its importance to the sector can’t be stressed enough. With this in mind, we will be looking at developing further opportunities for British red meat in the EU in the year ahead, building on the roll out of our Quality Meat from Britain branding. Quality Meat from Britain is aimed at providing consistency of messaging around provenance and high production standards for British red meat in the European market and is the perfect platform on which we can promote red meat exports in the region.  

“In addition, and further to the Secretary of State’s trade mission to the US earlier this year with a delegation including our chair Emily Norton, it has been incredibly insightful to hear from industry colleagues about the potential future for our produce in the region.” 

AHDB said that the Red Meat Export Conference forms part of its programme of activity to support export businesses, which includes work on market access, inward and outward trade missions and flying the flag for world-class British red meat at major trade events around the world.  

This will include a major presence at SIAL in Paris in October, this year’s largest international trade show, and the British Meat Dinner, which coincides with the event. 

Eckley concluded: “The conference is a key date in the industry calendar and provides a platform for discussion about global trends and patterns in trade production, future risks and challenges. Red meat exports play a key role in underpinning domestic prices and ensuring carcase balance. 

“AHDB’s continued investment in export development, working collaboratively with industry and other stakeholders to drive further growth on behalf of levy payers will play a crucial role in helping build on the momentum the sector has enjoyed over the last few years.”