Northern Ireland’s biggest red meat exporter today (Monday, March 2) lauded a US/UK tariff-free trade deal which has delivered a major boost for the Foyle Food Group.

The family-owned group, which is one of the largest red meat processors in the UK, has exported its first tariff-free shipment of beef to the US under the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

The Foyle Food Group shipment is valued at more than £190,000.

The Northern Ireland company will benefit from nearly £50,000 in "tariff relief" according to the UK's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) on this specific shipment.

The UK secured a 13,000 metric tonne quota for British beef in the US through the new UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

Under the terms of this deal, the UK agreed to remove a 20% tariff that had been in place on US beef imports and created a preferential duty-free quota of 13,000t for hormone-free US beef.

In return, the US then re-allocated to the UK 13,000t of its existing "other countries” tariff rate quota for beef.

The UK government has said the new quota "is a major growth opportunity for British farmers, worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised".

US

According to Michael Acheson, business development manager at Foyle Food Group, it means that the family-owned business can export tarrif-free to "a wide range of customers across the United States".

"Securing this dedicated UK quota for the first time also allows us to build longer-term business relationships and provide a more consistent and reliable supply into the US market," Acheson added.

The UK has also launched its first dedicated agri‑food trade mission to Washington DC this week, led by the UK's Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds.

Taking part in the trade mission this week will be a number of UK industry figures including representatives from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Foyle Food Group, the International Meat Trade Association and the Scotch Whisky Association.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw believes there is a growing demand in the US for a range of UK products, from beef to lamb, dairy and pork.

"We hope to build on this momentum and champion high quality British produce in new and potential markets," he added.