IMTA Press Release: Reaction to Expected Entry Into Force Date for Australia and New Zealand FTAs
The International Meat Trade Association (IMTA) welcomes the announcement that the new UK Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand are expected to come into force on 31st May 2023.
The UK has strong historical and cultural ties with Australia and New Zealand and both countries are long-standing suppliers of beef and lamb to the UK market. Due to their opposite seasons, Australia and New Zealand play a key role in ensuring lamb is available on UK shelves all year-round. Alongside British meat, beef and lamb from Australia and New Zealand provide UK consumers with access to high quality products, especially during seasonal peaks, such as lamb in Easter and beef for summer barbecues.
Katie Doherty, IMTA CEO said that “the Association is looking forward to supporting the UK bilateral trade agreements implementation as they will help strengthen the close and trusted relationship between Australia, New Zealand and the UK. IMTA will also seek to assist members making the most of opportunities provided by the FTAs.”
Under the current global scenario where uncertainties prevail, having access to high quality meat from a range of trading partners, complementing domestic production, is key to maintaining UK food security and the phased approach towards the additional duty-free access within these agreements will contribute to that.
IMTA celebrates the implementation of these trade deals as a key and historical step in the UK’s journey as an independent trading nation. We look forward to seeing future progress on UK FTAs with other partners, including the recently finalises accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
9th May 2023