Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) welcomes the announcement yesterday by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson that the free trade deal with the United Kingdom is the most comprehensive and ambitious in Australia’s history.

The broad outlines of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have now been agreed and will provide greater access and a significant boost to the UK market for Australian producers and farmers.

“This means that sheep meat tariffs will be eliminated after ten years. Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota of 25,000 tonnes, rising in equal instalments to 75,000 tonnes in year 10. In the first five years a safeguard will apply on sheep meat imports exceeding a further volume threshold rising in equal instalments to 125,000 tonnes, levying a tariff safeguard duty of 20% for the rest of the calendar year.”

“FTA negotiations are all about opening up options for the Australian producers as well as the UK consumer and will be of mutual benefit.” says Mr Stephen Crisp SPA CEO.

The next step is to finalise the agreement in writing to enable signatures and subsequent entry into force of the FTA.

“Now is a very good time to demonstrate that supply options from Australia will be of great benefit to the UK and Australia.” says Mr Crisp.

“SPA appreciates and acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Government by having negotiated this ambitious bilateral free trade agreement that will offer sheep producers greater market access. We would also like to thank Meat & Livestock Australia and those within the supply chain for their work in getting the agreement to this point.” says Mr Crisp.

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Stephen Crisp

Chief Executive Officer

0455 999 130