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<p>Food and drink exports are a success story. Exports have increased by 24% in real
terms since 2010. The Government is determined to help maintain existing and develop
new export opportunities. This includes through ongoing market access and via showcasing
and promoting our excellent food and drink even more in the years to come.</p><p>
</p><p>Exports are an important driver of growth in the food and drink sector, allowing
it to become more resilient, competitive and profitable. The UK’s growing reputation
for high quality food and drink, with high standards of food safety, animal welfare
and sustainability, is an excellent platform to increase overseas demand for our products
further. Defra’s ‘Food is GREAT’ campaign is raising the profile and reputation of
British food and drink overseas by building global demand and increasing positive
perceptions of the UK’s food and drink products, as demonstrated by recent campaign
activity in Japan to promote beef and lamb exports from the UK, following opening
up of market access last year.</p><p> </p><p>Defra, in collaboration with the Department
for International Trade and representatives of the food and drink sector, is developing
a replacement for the existing International Action Plan for Food and Drink, which
will set out the future export ambitions for the sector. This includes reviewing the
support we offer in market, building on the success of Defra’s first agriculture counsellor
in Beijing.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in the Government’s election manifesto, we have
ambitious goals for British trade. As of 31 January 2020, when the UK left the EU,
we had successfully concluded and signed trade continuity agreements with 48 countries.
This accounts for £110 billion of UK trade in 2018. We will be continuing our programme
to replicate existing EU trade agreements with trading partners to ensure continuity
for UK businesses following the transition period. An up-to-date list of trade continuity
agreements, signed and in discussion, is available on the GOV.UK website at: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-with-non-eu-countries"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-with-non-eu-countries</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>We aim to have 80 per cent of UK trade with countries covered by free trade
agreements within the next three years, starting with the USA, Australia, New Zealand
and Japan. This will further present new routes to market for British farmers. We
are also working hard to secure a free trade agreement with the EU that will provide
tariff-free access to the EU market for UK goods, and facilitative customs arrangements
that will ensure smooth trade.</p>
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