The UK government recently agreed in principle a new trade deal with New Zealand, paving the way for the UK to join the CPTPP – a collaborative trading block of 11 Pacific nations including New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Japan, worth £8.4tn ($11.6tn) in 2020.
On November 2, AHDB will be joined by industry experts during the webinar to look at why dairy exporters should consider tapping into the Australasian markets – where imported speciality cheese and dairy snacks are in high demand.
With Australia and New Zealand showing huge potential for dairy exports, delegates will also hear about two new reports, commissioned by AHDB to assess their attractiveness.
The findings will be discussed by Nicola Thomas, director of the Food and Drink Exporters Association and Jayne Hunt, director of Hunt Exports in Australia. They will explore how a new Free Trade Agreement with Australia and New Zealand has the potential to open-up wider market access.
They will also look at how both countries have a shared heritage and affinity with UK products and culture and how premium dairy products are growing in popularity, providing opportunities for imported goods.
Exporters will also hear from Cheryl Brett, international sales manager at Coombe Castle, which has been exporting British dairy products for more than 40 years.
AHDB senior dairy export manager Lucy Randolph, who will be hosting the webinar, said, “This is an important event for exporters in the UK as it will take an in-depth look at the many opportunities these markets present for our dairy products. And with many exporters looking at new markets further afield in the wake of Brexit, the findings of our new reports will prove hugely valuable.
“It’s important to recognize that both countries have some of the highest dairy consumption and consumer expenditure levels in the world and pre-Covid, UK dairy exports to both Australia and New Zealand were showing double digit year-on-year growth.
“We hope that dairy exporters from the UK will join us for this webinar as AHDB continues to explore new and emerging markets which have the potential to deliver the most valuable opportunities for our levy-payers.”
In spite of the webinar, Dairy UK last week criticized the UK government’s trade deal with New Zealand, with the organization’s chief executive Dr Judith Bryans saying, “Make no mistake, this trade deal is a blow for UK dairy. This agreement will see tariffs eliminated over five years and with its lower production costs, New Zealand will be able to seize its opportunity to grow an unlimited market share for its dairy products here in the UK.
“While true this agreement comes with export opportunities for agriculture and UK dairy companies, the UK market is many times bigger than that of New Zealand and offers more opportunities to the agricultural sector there.”