The British government is claiming a win for the UK food and drink industry, as tariffs into Switzerland are being lowered, including for dairy products. UK environment secretary Emma Reynolds said, “Switzerland is already a £195 million market for British food and drink, and this deal will open the door to even more.

“For the first time ever, UK lamb will enter Switzerland tariff-free. Beef, dairy and English sparkling wine will all benefit from lower tariffs too. This government has delivered a deal that gives British farmers and producers a real competitive edge without compromising our high standards or interests of our farmers.”

NFU president Tom Bradshaw agreed, noting, “This is a great example of a balanced deal. We appreciate the government’s efforts to secure competitive access to the Swiss market for UK farmers – something the NFU has called for since the very start of these negotiations.

“The deal will provide exciting opportunities for our beef, lamb, dairy and viticulture sectors, and UK consumers can be reassured that Swiss imports have been produced to high standards.”

The deal will unlock improved access for UK dairy exporters, with tariffs cut by up to 50% on products such as milk powder, building on the sector’s existing tariff-free access for cheese. In return, the UK has made only a very limited offer on certain dairy lines. Subject to Swiss processes, the FTA will allow the UK government to protect a further 28 UK Geographical Indications in Switzerland, including Traditional Welsh Caerphilly and Ayrshire New Potatoes. This is in addition to the 66 GIs currently protected under the existing UK-Switzerland Agriculture Agreement. The FTA marks a step towards securing protecting the full register of UK GIs in the Swiss market. This will ensure that the heritage, reputation and quality of some of the UK’s finest food and drink products are protected and recognised in Switzerland while supporting the communities and local economies that benefit from GI status.

The agreement also includes a new SPS chapter to make trade smoother and more predictable, strengthening UK-Swiss cooperation through faster information sharing, reducing red tape at the border and helping resolve trade issues more quickly.