UK and Switzerland agree new trade deal with opportunities for agri-food exports 

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 full details have not yet been published, here we look at what we know so far and key opportunities the deal could create for UK agricultural exporters.

We will continue to follow developments closely, particularly any concessions affecting the dairy sector, and will keep levy payers updated as further details emerge. 

Key points  

• The tariff on fresh boneless beef will be cut by 35% within the Swiss World Trade Organisation (WTO) quota, the best ever offered by Switzerland  

• Sheep meat will be tariff-free within the WTO quota  

• Tariffs on a limited range of dairy products will be cut by up to 50%, with powdered milk products receiving the largest reduction  

• There are limited market concessions in return, with sensitive products including pork, poultry and eggs excluded from the deal  

• Switzerland will gain access to the UK market for a limited number of dairy lines  

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. 

Boneless beef  

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 Argentina, 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.   

Table 1. Boneless beef imports to Switzerland  in 2025  

Source: TDM  

Sheep meat   

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.   

Table 2. Sheep meat imports to Switzerland  

Source: TDM  

Next steps in the trade deal  

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.  

We will continue to assess the agreement as more details are released and update on what it could mean for UK farmers, processors and exporters.   

Further information

See our 2024 report exploring the Swiss market, production, consumption and economic modelling of the potential impact of the trade deal.