Peru’s ratification of the UK’s accession to the Trans-Pacific trade partnership is the final piece to fall into place and clear the way for the UK to join the CPTPP on 15 December 2024. This gives us tariff-free access for most goods into the 11-member trade group.
For the meat industry, it certainly opens up some new opportunities, although we already have free trade agreements with many of the countries involved. But the main export focus will stay firmly on our nearest, biggest and most high-value market in Europe, where we can sell offal (a key component of meat exports and carcase balance) at near double the price of other markets in CPTPP countries.
Perhaps the longer term opportunity lies in countries that are not yet part of the trading block but may be admitted in the future. Of course, the ability to trade tariff free is a two way street, so one of the risks will be product coming the other way into the UK. We’ll be monitoring how these markets open up in the coming months and years. In the mean time, AHDB have a useful collection of articles and studies on the potential impact of joining the CPTPP.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
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