Free Trade Agreement Brings ‘Exciting Opportunities’ For New Zealand Beef

By Edward Waddell

New Zealand’s only 100% farmer owned red meat co-operative The Alliance Group, which has over 5,000 farmer shareholders, has spoken out on the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which came into force Wednesday 31st May 2023.

Under the FTA, the UK, which is New Zealand’s seventh largest trading partner, will remove tariffs on 97% of imported products and stage the removal of tariffs on beef and sheep meat imports, with no duties at all from the 16th year (2038).

The Alliance Group is one of the largest exporters of red meat from New Zealand, producing free range and grass-fed beef, lamb and venison on their family farms. Red meat is popular in the UK, with the beef and veal category spend worth £2.37billion.

As a supplier to the UK foodservice and hospitality sector, the Alliance welcomes the FTA and sees it as an opportunity for high-quality New Zealand and British red meat products to sit side-by-side. Grass-fed New Zealand beef can offer the foodservice sector a point of difference on menus, as well as guaranteed consistency and quality.

Helen Scott, regional general manager at the Alliance Group, said: “The FTA is a significant step forward in opening the door for New Zealand farmers and provides an opportunity to grow, invest and diversify. Early figures show that UK imports from New Zealand are projected to grow by £1billion.

“The quality of our products perfectly aligns and complements the UK, which is renowned for its high quality and sustainable British foods. In fact, in a first for New Zealand, the FTA includes a chapter that recognises the high priority that we afford animal welfare in farming practices and acknowledges the comparability of both countries’ high standards in this area.”