The UK has secured market access to Japan for exports of UK poultry meat.

The move – announced today (16 June) by UK food minister Victoria Prentis – is said to be worth GBP13m (US$18,3m) a year to the country’s poultry exporters.

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Prentis said: “We are working hard to open new markets for our agri-food businesses and this is a significant opportunity for the UK poultry sector.”

The deal follows talks over the last four years between UK and Japanese officials to agree specific animal health requirements.

In September, the UK and Japan forged a trade deal through the signing of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and, now that the UK has left the EU, that agreement has come into force.

Katie Doherty, CEO of the UK-based International Meat Trade Association (IMTA), said: “The announcement means that IMTA members and other UK exporters can take advantage of the tariff reductions granted by the UK-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement reduces tariffs on frozen chicken cuts from an average of 10% to zero over a number of years.”

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The British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths added: “Our industry has worked closely with government to open doors and create new opportunities for British poultry meat businesses that produce safe, affordable and nutritious food to world-class standards. We look forward to carrying on pursuing new markets to continue putting UK poultry meat on every table around the world.”

Yesterday (15 June), a trade deal between the UK and Australia was unveiled.

The agreement was the first major free-trade deal the UK has formulated from scratch since the country left the EU in January. It has been acknowledged by the UK government as a stepping stone toward joining the broader Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

 

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