UK farmers are to have improved access to the Swiss market after the UK signed a new trade deal with Switzerland, in a move welcomed by the National Farmers’ Union.
The agreement will allow greater access for British beef, lamb and dairy products, alongside some horticultural goods, while also offering new opportunities for UK sparkling wine exports.
The NFU said it had spent several years lobbying for improved access to Switzerland, including writing to trade minister Chris Bryant last month urging the government to prioritise beef, lamb and dairy during negotiations.
For UK suppliers, Switzerland is a relatively small but high-value market, with food prices around 73 per cent higher than the EU average and consumers willing to pay more for premium products.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw welcomed the agreement, describing it as “a great example of a balanced deal”.
He said: “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.
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“The deal will provide exciting opportunities for our farmers and growers. It’s actually the best access that Switzerland has ever given a trading partner on fresh boneless beef and sparkling wine.”
The deal follows steady growth in UK food exports to Switzerland in recent years. British beef exports were worth an average of £3.2m a year between 2023 and 2025, while lamb exports reached more than £5.5m in 2025.
The government said the improved market access should help British producers expand further by giving them a competitive advantage over other exporters.
The agreement also includes tariff reductions on a number of dairy products, including milk, cream and powdered milk, as well as lower seasonal tariffs on horticultural products such as peas, carrots and broad beans.
British sparkling wine producers are also expected to benefit after the government secured what it described as Switzerland’s biggest ever tariff reduction for sparkling wine imports from a trading partner.
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