What UK exporters need to know about trade opportunities across the Americas

For UK meat exporters, success in global markets is no longer solely driven by scale or commodity volumes. Increasingly, international buyers are prioritising supply chain resilience, trusted standards, traceability and premium product quality. This shift is creating new opportunities for British beef, lamb and pig meat exporters across the Americas.

The UK’s latest trade agreements are helping exporters improve market access and reduce barriers in key regions, including Canada, the United States, Mexico and Chile.

While the UK is not positioned to compete on high-volume production, British exporters are well placed to compete in premium and specification-driven segments where standards and consistency matter most.

UK meat exports: A sector with global reach

Despite its relatively modest production base compared to major global exporters, the UK remains an important supplier of premium red meat products worldwide.

UK red meat exports continue to contribute significantly to the agricultural economy, with demand driven by quality, provenance and trusted production systems.

Our data shows UK beef exports for quarter 1 2026 totalled 36,000 tonnes, up 14.4% from 2025. This increasing volume grew the value share of exports to £231 million, 36.2% up from Q1 last year.

UK pig meat production is forecast to reach 972,000 tonnes in 2026, a 0.3% decline year-on-year (YOY), with heavier carcase weights partially offsetting lower slaughter numbers.

With exports forecasted to fall by between 1 and 2% YOY. The larger export decline is due to wider challenges on the global market.

Growing demand for premium British produce helped drive UK red meat exports to £2 billion in 2025, an increase of 12% compared with 2024. The result highlights the strong reputation of British beef, lamb and pig meat in international markets.

Competing on quality, not volume

The UK’s beef, lamb and pork sectors operate within a highly regulated production environment, supported by strong animal welfare, food safety and traceability standards.

For UK exporters, this provides a clear competitive advantage, particularly in markets seeking premium imported meat with clear provenance credentials.

British meat exports are particularly suited to:

• Premium retail programmes
• High-end foodservice channels
• Specialist importers looking for differentiated supply
• Buyers seeking diversification from domestic or commodity supply chains

Rather than replacing domestic production in export markets, British beef, lamb and pig meat can complement existing supply by offering a consistent, high-quality product backed by recognised standards, strong heritage and reliable supply chain credentials.

Canada: Stable access through the UK–Canada Trade Continuity Agreement

The UK–Canada Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA), in force since April 2021, maintains the preferential access arrangements previously available under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

For UK exporters, this provides a stable and predictable framework for trade with Canada.

Key advantages include:

• Tariff-free access for most goods, including eligible meat products
• Regulatory continuity
• Greater confidence for long-term customer relationships
• Improved certainty around rules of origin

For exporters targeting premium Canadian retail or foodservice sectors, the agreement helps support long-term market development opportunities.

United States: New opportunities for British beef

The UK–US Economic Prosperity Deal marks a significant development for British beef exports.

From January 2026, a reciprocal 13,000-tonne, tariff-relieved beef quota will provide UK exporters with renewed access to the US market.

While the quota is limited, it still presents opportunities for UK exporters supplying:

• Premium grass-fed beef
• High-value cuts
• Specialist retail and hospitality sectors
• Buyers looking for consistent, trusted supply

At a time when the US cattle herd remains historically low and beef prices are elevated, British beef can help fill targeted premium supply gaps rather than compete directly on volume.

Chile and CPTPP: Improved access for pig meat and beef

UK exporters can also benefit from improved access to Chile through both the UK–Chile Association Agreement and the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Together, these agreements support tariff liberalisation for eligible agricultural products, including pig meat and beef, helping to create a more favourable trading environment.

For exporters, this means:

• Potential zero duty access
• Reduced administrative friction
• Enhanced competitiveness against other international suppliers
• Greater long-term market access opportunities across CPTPP markets

This is particularly relevant for exporters looking to diversify beyond traditional European destinations.

UK–Mexico CPTPP Agreement

The UK–Mexico CPTPP Agreement entered into force on 22 June, enabling the UK to export pig meat to Mexico under the CPTPP.

This represents a significant opportunity in one of the world’s largest pig meat markets.

With the agreement now in force, Mexico’s 20% tariff on UK pig meat has been eliminated, improving the competitiveness of British products and supporting future export growth in the market.

What this means for UK exporters

The UK’s trade agreements are not designed to drive mass volume exports. Instead, they provide exporters with improved access to targeted markets where premium British meat can add value.

For UK exporters, the opportunity lies in:

• Building long-term relationships with importers
• Positioning British meat as a premium, trusted product
• Leveraging provenance, quality and assurance credentials
• Targeting high-value sectors rather than commodity markets

As global procurement priorities continue to evolve, British beef and pig meat exporters are increasingly well placed to compete where quality, reliability and trust matter most.