The long spoken about free trade deal with the UK has been ratified, with the bill given Royal Assent in the UK Parliament in late March. 

This deal improves access to an important market for Aussie farmers. It will also give UK consumers the option of sustainable, high quality Australian produce on supermarket shelves to complement their existing home-grown options.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) applauds the Australian and UK governments for reaching a deal that meaningfully reduces trade barriers, at a time when many countries are choosing to step back from trade liberalisation.

Australia has among the lowest agricultural subsidies in the OECD. To survive and thrive, Australian farmers rely on open and fair access to export markets.

The UK FTA sets a strong standard from which to continue negotiations with other markets, as Australia continues to provide an important voice for levelling the playing field for agricultural trade.

However, one negative this FTA will bring is the removal of the requirement for UK nationals on Working Holiday VISA’s to do their specified work; eg their 88 days on farm. Many producers rely on working holiday makers to provide temporary labour over the busy seasons on farm, and the requirement for VISA holders to do 3 months work in Agriculture has long been a great help in sourcing such labour.  

Specific positive outcomes relevant to agriculture include: 

• Beef tariffs will be eliminated after 10 years. During the transition period, Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota of 35,000 tonnes, rising in equal instalments to 110,000 tonnes in year 10 years.
• Sheep meat tariffs will be eliminated after 10 years. During the transition period, 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 years.
• Sugar tariffs will be eliminated over eight years. During the transition period, Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota of 80,000 tonnes, rising by 20,000 tonnes each year.
• Dairy tariffs will be eliminated over five years. During the transition period, Australia will have immediate access to a duty-free quota for cheese of 24,000 tonnes, rising in equal instalments to 48,000 tonnes in year five.  
• Australian dairy farmers will also have immediate access to a duty-free quota for non-cheese dairy of 20,000 tonnes.
• Rice will receive immediate duty free access for short and medium grain milled rice when the agreement enters in force.