The UK dairy sector will receive a multi-million pound export
boost as China agrees to import UK dairy products such as cream
made with milk from third countries. International Trade
Secretary MP today met with China’s General
Administration of Customs to reach this agreement, estimated to
be worth £240 million over five years to the UK.
With demand for most dairy categories growing by more than 20%
each year in China, it is one of the country’s fastest growing
areas of food demand. The UK exported over £96 million of dairy
products to China in 2017, and there has been significant
interest in the market following the Prime Minister and Dr Fox’s
visit earlier this year.
This deal means that producers will have increased flexibility on
sourcing the dairy they use for their products.
International Trade Secretary MP said:
“This is my fourth visit to China this year and I’m delighted to
see the completion of this deal, bringing significant benefits to
dairy producers across the UK at a time when British food and
drink exports are at a record high.
“China is the UK’s fifth largest trading partner, with exports
growing by 28.5% in 2017 when compared with the previous year.
“As an international economic department, DIT is working with our
partners across the world to liberalise international trade by
removing barriers to commerce, helping businesses and ensuring
greater choice for consumers worldwide. Today’s announcement will
boost our £67.5 billion trading relationship even further.”
Environment Secretary MP commented:
“Our world-class dairy producers already export £1.7 billion
worth of produce per year. This milestone will help to unlock the
UK food and drink industry’s full potential forging new trading
relationships around the globe. This step shows we can be a truly
outward looking Britain outside the European Union.”
Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China, Richard Burn, added:
“The appetite in China for UK produce is clearly already strong.
However there remains untapped potential across all food and
drink categories.
“Imports into China of products such as yoghurt, flavoured milk
and cheese have seen rapid growth as Chinese consumers
increasingly associate these items with nutrition and wellbeing.
“Today’s good news will build on the success of the Prime
Minister and Dr Fox’s visit to China earlier in the year, when
they negotiated a lift on a two-decades-long ban on imports of
beef from the UK.”
Whilst in China, Dr Fox is attending a meeting of the UK-China
Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) in Beijing, as well
as meeting companies and senior Chinese government ministers to
discuss trading opportunities between the two countries.
