The signing of a free trade deal between the UK and New Zealand allowing a significant increase in sheepmeat imports into the UK will create an unnecessary risk for Britain’s sheep farmers in years to come. This is the belief of the National Sheep Association (NSA) as it responds to the signing of the deal on Feb 28th.
 
The New Zealand deal follows a free trade deal also agreed with Australia at the end of 2021 with both being hailed by the Department for International Trade (DIT) as successful agreements allowing extensive trade opportunities for many UK industries. The two deals however, with the world’s largest sheepmeat exporting nations, don’t go far enough in protecting UK sheep farmers via the ‘special measures’. NSA is therefore concerned over where it is expected to transition to after 15 years when trade is expected to be liberalised completely.

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