The move will result in a tangible upgrade on the current UK–Mexico trade agreement and will unlock immediate commercial opportunities across key sectors.
Calling the enhanced agreement a “step-change” in British-Mexican trade access, the government says the deal will deliver “immediate tariff reductions, expanded mobility and modern digital trade rules”, giving UK businesses a stronger platform to compete on the world stage.
Food and drink exporters will experience direct benefits, with chocolate tariffs cut to 0% (down from up to around 25%), new duty-free access to cheese and dairy via shared quotas, and tariff-free pork from day one.
Concurrently, the government says UK importers could see lower costs on Mexican goods such as honey, asparagus, sweetcorn and orange juice.
“Mexico’s ratification of the UK’s accession to CPTPP will create new opportunities for UK food and drink exporters,” said George Hyde, head of trade policy at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).
“While the UK already has a bilateral agreement with Mexico, CPTPP offers improved access for products such as biscuits, chocolate and ice cream, where tariffs will be removed.”
He continued: “To fully realise these benefits, it’s vital that businesses, particularly smaller manufacturers, have the right support in place. Government and industry should continue building on successful initiatives, such as last year’s inward mission involving Mexican retail buyers visiting the UK, to help UK producers connect with this growing market.”
Mexico’s primary food and drink exports include beer and tequila production, but the country is also a leading producer of avocados and tomatoes.
The North American nation is the UK’s largest destination in Latin America, with key exports including high-value dairy, chocolate, confectionery and poultry.
Total UK food and drink exports to Mexico currently average more than £136 million annually.
