The UK government has secured "improved market access" for British lamb, beef and dairy in a new trade agreement with Switzerland that will reduce the tariffs on exports of these products.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), zero tariffs will be imposed on British lamb exports under the trade deal, while exports of "high-quality" beef steaks will benefit from a 35% tariff reduction.

For UK dairy exporters, tariffs on products such as milk powder will be cut by 50%, building on the sector's existing tariff-free access for cheese.

With Switzerland already being a £195 million market for British food and drink, Defra Secretary of State, Emma Reynolds suggested that "this deal will open the door to even more" exports.

She said: "For the first time ever, UK lamb will enter Switzerland tariff-free; beef and dairy will all benefit from lower tariffs too.

Defra described the new trade agreement as "a balanced deal that delivers valuable new opportunities for exporters of lamb, selected beef and dairy products, while protecting domestic producers by offering no new access on pork, poultry and eggs."

The department outlined that it did however strike a deal with the Swiss government for a "very limited offer on certain dairy lines" in return for the tariff reduction on UK dairy exports.

Moving away from livestock, British fruit and vegetable growers are also set to receive improved seasonal access to the Swiss market, with tariffs falling to as low as zero on a wide range of products, including peas, carrots, and broad beans. 

In addition to this, tariffs on English sparkling wine will be reduced by 34%, which is reportedly "Switzerland's best preferential treatment" for exports of the product.

Defra claimed that this trade deal will give British sheep farmers a "competitive edge" over other regions, such as the EU, Australia and New Zealand, who currently face standard tariffs that the UK will no longer face.

NFU

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) welcomed the news of the reduced tariffs.

It noted that the Swiss market is of "high value, with food prices 73% above the EU average and a consumer base who are willing to pay more for high quality products".

The farming union outlined that the new trade deal follows roughly four years of campaign efforts by the NFU, including a letter to the Minister for Trade Chris Bryant in June, calling for government to secure a competitive foothold, particularly for beef, lamb and dairy.

NFU president, Tom Bradshaw described the announcement as "a great example of a balanced deal".

He commented: "We appreciate the government’s efforts to secure competitive access to the Swiss market for UK farmers – something the NFU has called for since the very start of these negotiations.

"It’s actually the best access that Switzerland has ever given a trading partner on fresh boneless beef and sparkling wine," Bradshaw added.

NFU stated that the average annual trade of British beef exports into the Swiss market between 2023 and 2025 was valued at £3.2 million.

When it comes to British lamb exports, the farming union estimated its annual trade to be worth over £5.5 million last year.

According to the NFU, the improved market access negotiated in the government's trade deal "should help to facilitate further growth in these exports".