UK agrees reciprocal market access on beef in US trade deal

The agreement with the US will aim to slash tariffs for UK farmers, which Government said would provide stability for exporters and has largely been welcomed by the meat industry, with some exceptions.

The UK has agreed new reciprocal market access on beef - with UK farmers given a quota for 13,000 metric tonnes. Government also said there would be “no weakening of UK food standards on imports”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer added: “The new global era demands a Government that steps up, not stands aside.

“My Government has put Britain at the front of the queue because we want to work constructively with allies for mutual benefit rather than turning our back on the world.”

International Meat Trade Association

A spokesperson from the International Meat Trade Association (IMTA) stated: “IMTA welcomes the announcement of a trade deal between the UK and US which sees reciprocal tariff rate quota access in both directions without any changes to UK food standards.

“The US has for many years exported high quality, hormone free beef to the UK. We are excited that UK beef exporters will have access to 13,000t of dedicated quota to the US market where it has to date been constrained by only having access to a quota shared with other countries.

“UK and US consumers will each have more opportunity to sample the best beef that each country produces. This is mirrored for US beef quota access to the UK market.

“When the UK left the EU, the US access to the UK market was diminished because the UK lost access to the high-quality ‘481’ beef quota. This beef had developed an important niche in supply for high-end restaurants. After EU Exit the US only had 1000t of Hilton beef shared with Canada for access at 20% duty to the UK market so this mirrored quota access is welcomed for both imports and exports.

“We look forward to seeing more details and further dialogue between the trading partners.”

British Poultry Council

BPC chief executive, Richard Griffiths, called the move “a clear signal that Government backs our standards and the values that underpin them.”

Griffiths said: “This is the right call made for the right reason. It is good to see Government standing firm on British food standards. Excluding chicken from a UK-US trade deal demonstrates a commitment to the responsibility and transparency that defines British poultry meat production.

“We are proud of how we produce poultry in this country. The decision sends a message that what we produce and how we produce it matters.”

National Farmers’ Union

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “We find ourselves in this position as a direct result of tariffs introduced by the US administration in April. This is not something anybody wanted.

“Since then, we have worked tirelessly on behalf of British agriculture, engaging closely with the UK Government to ensure our farmers receive a fair and balanced outcome within this deal and that the public is not exposed to lower standard produce.

“We appreciate the Government’s efforts in listening to our concerns, particularly around maintaining high standards, protecting sensitive agricultural sectors and securing reciprocal access for beef.”

“Our biggest concern is that two agricultural sectors have been singled out to shoulder the heavy burden of the removal of tariffs for other industries in the economy.”

Tom Bradshaw, NFU

Bradshaw continued: “For several years, we’ve campaigned with the UK’s agricultural attachés in Washington for market access for British beef, a product globally respected for its quality and strong environmental credentials. These efforts have contributed to enabling the UK Government to secure ring-fenced access for British beef exports to the US.

“However, the inclusion of a significant volume of bioethanol in the deal raises concerns for British arable farmers. We’ll be engaging closely with our members to help them understand and prepare for the potential impact.

“Our biggest concern is that two agricultural sectors have been singled out to shoulder the heavy burden of the removal of tariffs for other industries in the economy. While we understand this, we also know that today is the start, not the end, of a process and UK agriculture cannot continue to shoulder such imbalances in future negotiations.”

Association of Independent Meat Suppliers

“The announcement, according to the Downing Street press release, allows for unprecedented market access for British farmers with protections on food standards maintained,” said Tony Goodger, head of communications at AIMS. “And we urge every one of our exporting members to take a close look at every opportunity be it for fresh or frozen cuts and British processed meat products.

“It is essential that all US beef, be it fresh or manufactured either in the US or the UK into processed products, is clearly labelled with the country of the beef’s origin in order that consumers can an informed choice at the point of purchase.

“We are keen to hear what ‘other agricultural products’ are included in the deal, specifically chicken and pork.

“No doubt the export team at AHDB now have an even bigger job on their plate, and I have every confidence in them.”

British Meat Processors Association

Nick Allen, CEO of BMPA, voiced his concerns: “With a growing shortage of livestock in the UK, we are becoming more reliant on importing beef and other products to feed this country’s needs, which poses a food security issue.

“Our concern, which we have voiced directly to Government ministers, is that the detail surrounding this 13,000 tonne quota should be carefully specified during final negotiations; something that wasn’t done properly for the Australian trade deal.

“The issue for the British meat industry is less about ‘how much’ beef and more about ‘what kind’ of beef is allowed in. It’s certain that US exporters will concentrate on the high value, premium end of the market by sending cuts like striploins to the UK. To illustrate the impact this could have: 13000 tonnes of striploins represents approximately 30% of that same cut we produce domestically. Indeed, the Australian year-two quota of 43,333 tonnes (this rises every year for 10 years) would represent ALL the striploins the UK produces. If the full quotas are used, this would represent crippling competition for British farmers.

“BMPA has urged Government ministers not to make the same mistakes as were made during negotiations of the Australia deal and, carefully set specific quantities of eligible product to avoid damaging our domestic meat and livestock industry.”

National Pig Association

A spokesperson for the National Pig Association (NPA) commented: “It is an important first step in restarting trading relations with the US. The US market is worth £24 million on average and represents our fourth largest export destination for UK pork.

“The NPA supports international trade, which helps to meet the UK’s demand for pigmeat and compliments domestic production, helping to maximise pig carcase balance. However, it is vital that this is done in such a way that protects the UK’s high production standards and ensures there is an equivalence in all trade deals.

“While the NPA welcomes Government assurances that ‘protections on food standards’ have been maintained, we reiterate our position that the UK Government should establish a set of core production standards that would apply to both domestically produced and imported food in order to be sold in the UK.

“Implementing core standards will prevent UK farmers’ animal welfare and sustainability efforts from being undermined and ensure that the UK does not simply offshore food production to countries with less sustainable systems and lower animal welfare standards.”

Red Tractor

Jim Moseley, Red Tractor CEO, stated: “The standards which farmers and manufacturers produce food to in the UK set us apart from the rest of the world. The UK Government must continue to defend UK food standards and farmers by ensuring any products entering the UK market do not undercut the high standards of British produce that consumers have come to expect.

“75% of UK adults trust the food they buy and eat in the UK, and the main reasons for that are the strong standards and clear labelling policies we have in the UK. We cannot risk slipping backwards to a place where customers are not confident in the food they’re buying - whether that is food safety, animal welfare or provenance.

“If shoppers want to be confident that their food is British and of a high standard, they should look for the Red Tractor.”

Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers

“While the full details of the new deal have still to be revealed, the headline announcement appears to uphold the high standards of UK and Scottish beef production, which is absolutely vital,” said SAMW executive manager, Scott Walker.

“This is clearly a valuable trade deal in broader UK economic terms, and we welcome its potential alongside other industries. The possibility of improved access to a high value market for premium Scotch Beef is a positive development for our sector. However, the current reality is that with a continuing decline in cattle numbers across the UK and Scotland, member companies are already being forced to turn down export opportunities.

“To fully capitalise on this new agreement, we need much greater support from both the UK and Scottish Governments for domestic beef production. At a time when demand in the home market remains strong. It is also important to note that securing approval for individual plants to export to the US comes with a six-figure price tag, making it a significant and likely prohibitive barrier for many businesses.

“And fundamentally, we must ask: why should we be importing beef from abroad when we already produce some of the best beef in the world right here in Scotland and across the UK?

“With this deal being rightly framed as a boost to the UK economy, we would urge Governments to recognise and unlock the significant, yet underutilised, GDP potential of our domestic beef sector.”

Food and Drink Federation

Karen Betts, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), said: “This is very positive news for the UK economy, and to be welcomed. There is obviously still the question of the 10% tariff that continues to apply to food and drink exports. We hope that this deal creates the space and momentum for continued discussions about removing those tariffs, too.

“The US is UK food and drink’s third biggest export market, with £2.7 billion worth of goods exported there in 2024, many of which are produced by small and medium-sized businesses. Government can make a real difference here by providing greater practical guidance and support to help more food and drink businesses find new customers abroad.”