The UK’s free trade agreements – April to June 2023

Our quarterly blog will provide seafood businesses with an update, on the UK governments progress with free trade agreements (FTA’s).

This edition will cover April, May and June of 2023.

When the UK left the EU, many of the existing free trade agreements were “rolled over” to allow trade to continue. Now that the UK are in control of their own trade policy, they are in the progress of making new free trade agreements.

What is the progress with negotiations?

You can see the list of FTA’s in force on the governments website. This includes the deals with Australia and New Zealand, which were brought into force in May.

The table below shows which stage we are on for new free trade agreements.

Free Trade Agreement Progress
Consultation		Negotiations		Ratification
				CPTPP
		Mexico	→
		Israel	→
		India	→
		GCC	→
		Greenland	→
		Canada	→
		South Korea	→
		Switzerland	→
Turkey	→
Maldives	→

The UK government has announced a call for input on trading relations with the Maldives. The consultation stage allows businesses to share their trading experiences and this information is used to shape the objectives for the UK’s negotiations. Seafood exports are minimal to the Maldives but in 2022 we imported £10.22 million from them, mainly of tuna. The consultation closes on the 2^nd of August.

The UK and India has completed its 10^th round of negotiations. If you would like to read more about our recommendations for the India FTA, you can read our blog.

On the 22^nd of May, the government held the first round of negotiations with Switzerland. In 2022 we sent £5.062 million to Switzerland, predominantly of salmon. Switzerland are not a member state of the European Union but are able to participate in the single market. This means that for goods cleared in France there are no subsequent checks on import into Switzerland.

Australia and New Zealand

The UK has now entered into force, free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. These are the first free trade agreements the UK has agreed as an independent trading nation, since leaving the European Union.

We would like to highlight to seafood businesses some of the advantages.

Tariffs for exporting seafood to Australia and New Zealand

Most seafood commodities were already a 0% tariff under the most favoured nation rate. However, the processing sector can take advantage of the rules of origin in the free trade agreements. The rules of origin allow you to use non originating seafood with a commodity code beginning 03 (the chapter for fish, crustaceans and molluscs) and process it into a finished product with a commodity code beginning 16 (the chapter for prepared or preserved seafood products.) These finished chapter 16 products such as cooked seafood or preserved in airtight containers, can be exported to Australia or New Zealand and qualify for preferential tariffs.

Tariffs for importing seafood from Australia

Many seafood commodities have been reduced to 0% tariffs when the FTA was entered into force. For some commodity codes such as lobsters, crabs, shrimps and scallops, there will be a phased reduction in tariffs by 2026.

You can check the full Australia import tariff schedule here.

Tariffs for importing seafood from New Zealand

Again, most seafood commodities have been reduced to 0% tariffs when the FTA was entered into force. For freshwater fish (commodity code 0303.89.10), some smoked or salted commodities (0305), shrimps, crayfish and mussels, there will be a phased reduction in tariffs by 2030.

You can check your commodity code on the New Zealand import tariff schedule here.

Non tariff advantages

Customs paperwork – electronic submissions can be submitted in advance of the shipments. There is a mutual aim that perishable goods will be released from customs within 6 hours, provided all the necessary documents have been received.

Customs rulings – Businesses can get advanced rulings for tariff classifications and origin. This means businesses can check tariff decisions before sending goods and the decision is legally binding.

SPS chapters – The free trade agreement has made commitments to electronic health certificates in the future.

Get in touch

We would greatly appreciate any feedback you can offer us on trading with the Maldives, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

If you would like to discuss free trade agreements and how they may benefit your imports or exports, please email the regulation team regulation@seafish.co.uk