NFU welcomes opportunities for British farming in UK-Japan trade deal

It is the UK’s first major trade deal as an independent trading nation

Britain’s newly agreed trade deal with Japan is “very positive” for British agriculture, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has said.

Agreed in principle by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu via video call last Friday, September 11, the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is expected to increase UK trade with Japan by £15.2 billion.

The UK’s first major post-Brexit trade deal, it will also see a total of 14 iconic South West products, including Cornish clotted cream, pasties and sardines, Exmoor Blue cheese and Westcountry beef and lamb, officially recognised as protected brands within the Japanese market.

Minette Batters, president of the NFU and a Westcountry livestock farmer, described the UK-Japan agreement, meaning around 85% of EU agri-food products are allowed to enter Japan duty-free over time, as an “important step” to ensuring some continuity in our existing trading relationships before the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31, 2020.

Mrs Batters, who farms in Wiltshire, said: “The UK-Japan trade deal is very positive for agriculture. We will continue to analyse this agreement to properly assess the impacts and opportunities this will bring to British farmers but there are several aspects of this agreement that seem positive for agriculture, specifically reduced tariffs on agricultural products and the increased number of geographical indications.

“Safeguards on some of our iconic products through these indications recognise the quality of the food we produce in this country and we hope this will further grow the fantastic British brand in overseas markets.”

Government analysis shows that a trade deal with Japan will deliver a £1.5 million boost to the UK economy and increase UK workers’ wages by £800 million in the long run. UK businesses will benefit from tariff-free trade on 99% of exports to Japan. More than 800 businesses in the South West exported to Japan last year. More local firms could now sell their goods there.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, said: “This is a historic moment for the UK and Japan as our first major post-Brexit trade deal. The agreement we have negotiated – in record time and in challenging circumstances – goes far beyond the existing EU deal, as it secures new wins for British businesses in our great manufacturing, food and drink, and tech industries.

“From our automotive workers in Wales to our shoemakers in the North of England, this deal will help build back better as we create new opportunities for people throughout the whole of the UK and help level up our country.

“Strategically, the deal is an important step towards joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership and placing Britain at the centre of a network of modern free trade agreements with like-minded friends and allies.”

Visiting farmers in South West last month, International Trade Minister Ranil Jayawardena explained that a UK-Japan deal is expected to bring an £85 million boost to the local economy, while a future trade deal with the US could deliver a £284 million boost to the South West economy, including for the region's specialist dairy producers and agricultural industry. Two thirds of all dairy products exported from the UK to the US are exported by the South West.