UK free trade deal sweetening as export quotas ease

The Albanese Labor Government is celebrating a surge in Australian beef, honey, sugar and lamb exports under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement. 

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, has been in the UK to discuss trade ties after the broad removal of tariffs under the trade agreement boosted agricultural exports following entry into force in May 2023, resulting in important growth in two-way trade.  

Beef and veal exports to the United Kingdom soared 339 percent in 2023-24, while the trade in natural honey shot up by 55 per cent, sugar surged by 23 per cent in value, lamb recorded a 26 per cent bump to top $100 million for the first time, and mutton rose 37 per cent. 

These results bode well for continued growth, especially as the duty-free quota for Australian sheep meat increases to 36,111 tonnes this calendar year, up from 25,000 tonnes since the trade agreement came into force in 2023.  

Australia’s agricultural exports to the UK was worth $711 million in 2023-24, up $88 million on the previous year, with key exports including wine ($394m), lamb and mutton ($131m), beef and veal ($73m) and chickpeas ($13m). 

The Albanese Labor Government has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for our farmers and producers to export our world-class products on the international stage.  

In 2023-24, we recorded 88 market access achievements which opened, improved, maintained, or restored access for Australian businesses, including unlocking 10 new markets.   

Australia now exports over 70 per cent of our agricultural, fisheries and forestry production to 169 markets globally – the most diversified trade has ever been, thanks to the Albanese Labor Government. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP: 

“Australian farmers are taking advantage of duty-free market access for a range of goods, including beef, sheep meat, wine, sugar, grains and horticulture, under our FTA with the United Kingdom. 

“Tariffs on wine, short and medium grain rice, honey, olive oil and nuts have been eliminated and duty-free transitional quotas for beef, sheep meat and sugar are already benefitting farming communities. 

“The FTA also means faster customs clearance times while maintaining our world-leading biosecurity measures. 

“The FTA has been a win-win for two-way agricultural trade with increases both ways on previous averages, and stronger cooperation on issues such as sustainable production and animal welfare.”