UK TRADE DEAL A BOOST FOR UK FISH AND CHIP SHOPS

UK trade deal a boost for UK fish and chip shops. An agreement to lock in trade in goods was signed in London this week between the UK and Iceland and Norway.

The deal means British consumers can continue to enjoy popular Icelandic and Norwegian products such as frozen haddock. Over 30% of the UK’s imports of fish fillets last year came from Iceland, many of which are used in British fish and chips shops.

The agreement covers trade in goods, and ensures 95% of goods trade with Norway and over 90% with Iceland will remain tariff-free, providing businesses with certainty that they can continue to operate on the same terms as they do today when the transition period ends.

This agreement on goods is an interim agreement while the UK and EEA-EFTA countries complete negotiations for a comprehensive FTA to come into force in 2021.

UK trade with Iceland and Norway was worth £27 billion last year, with over £20 billion of this in goods.

Without this agreement, duties on UK imports from Iceland and Norway could have increased by an estimated £65 million[1] under World Trade Organisation trading arrangements.

International Trade Minister Ranil Jayawardena said:

“This agreement locks in tariff-free trade for businesses worth over £20 billion between our countries, supporting jobs and livelihoods across Britain and beyond.

“I look forward to finalising a comprehensive trade agreement on goods and services with our longstanding partners Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to enter into force in 2021 that delivers on our shared commitment to free and fair trade.

“In addition, the UK has also agreed a number of measures with the EEA EFTA states to ensure trade in services can continue as smoothly as possible ahead of a comprehensive trade agreement coming into force in 2021.”