Farmers' anger grows as Australian beef floods into Britain after trade deal

"New figures show that beef imports from Australia have surged since the UK-Australia free-trade deal came into force in May 2023. Volumes jumped by almost 200 per cent in the first year of the agreement, rose a further 170 per cent last year, and increased by more than 80 per cent in the first nine months of 2025 alone, according to Australian data."

"Sheep meat imports, primarily lamb, have also risen sharply, climbing 39 per cent in 2023 and 42 per cent in 2024, before easing to single-digit growth so far this year. The figures appear to validate warnings made by British farmers ahead of the deal's signing, when they cautioned that the agreement could open the door to a wave of low-cost meat imports."

"David Barton, a cattle farmer and chair of the National Farmers' Union livestock board, said the impact of the deal was now being felt across the sector. "We've long warned that the UK-Australia deal would have real consequences for British livestock producers," he said. "Now we are seeing those impacts play out." Barton added that the surge in imports is arriving at a difficult moment for UK farmers, many of whom are grappling with a challenging dry season and rising costs."

Beef imports from Australia surged after the UK-Australia free-trade deal, jumping almost 200% in the first year, rising a further 170% the next year, and increasing more than 80% in the first nine months of 2025. Sheep meat imports, primarily lamb, climbed 39% in 2023 and 42% in 2024, with single-digit growth so far this year. British farmers warned that the deal could open the door to low-cost meat imports. The surge arrives amid a dry season and rising costs, undermining confidence to produce British beef and highlighting concerns about differing welfare and sustainability standards.

Read at Business Matters