The UK and Switzerland have finished negotiating a new free trade agreement (FTA) to replace the arrangements put in place after the UK left the EU.
While the deal is being promoted mainly as a major agreement for services trade, the UK Government says it could also bring benefits for agri-food exporters.
The deal includes improvements to access to the Swiss market for a range of UK products, including red meat, dairy, horticultural goods, seafood and sparkling wine.
One of the key outcomes for the red meat sector is better access to Switzerland’s WTO sheep meat quota, with UK exports set to be tariff-free.
This could create new opportunities for UK exporters in what is considered a high-value market.
The 35% tariff reduction in the WTO quota for fresh boneless beef is the best market access offered by Switzerland in an FTA.
This presents a significant opportunity for the UK beef industry. Currently the three-year average for UK exports is 117 tonnes at an average price of £29/kg, worth around £3 million a year.
Switzerland’s main trading partners are surrounding EU countries. Around 58% of its boneless beef imports in 2025 came from the EU, largely from Austria, Germany and Ireland.
Switzerland also imports beef from South America countries such as Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentine, while smaller volumes come from the USA, Canada and Japan.
The UK ranks 6th for value per tonne for fresh boneless beef. Japan is first by a significant margin because of the high value of its Wagyu and Kobe products. Switzerland also imports high-value beef from the USA, Chile and Canada, with lower value imports coming from the EU and other South American countries.
Switzerland accepts hormone-treated beef from the USA and Canada as long as it is clearly labelled.
Switzerland represents a potential high-value market for the UK, with consumers willing and able to pay for the high-quality, grass-fed, hormone-free beef the UK produces.
The UK is the fourth largest lamb supplier to Switzerland, behind New Zealand, Australia and Ireland. This market was worth around £5.5 million in 2025.
Tariff-free access within the quota means UK lamb exporters can now compete on a level playing field with the EU when selling to Switzerland.
While Switzerland and New Zealand have announced plans to begin trade talks which could pose a risk, UK lamb should remain competitive thanks to its price advantage over New Zealand imports.
The agreement is also expected to cut Swiss tariffs on British sparkling wine by around a third. Details of changes to dairy products, horticulture and seafood have not yet been published.
As the full text of the deal has not yet been released, it is still too early to understand all the implications for UK agricultural trade. The deal must also be approved by both the UK and Swiss parliaments before it can come into force.
