Brexit: Change allows tariff-free meat from Australia and NZ

Tariffs are effectively trade taxes which are applied to imports of some goods.

A tariff rate quota means a certain amount of product can be imported tariff free every year while imports above that limit have tariffs applied.

Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker said it was a unique arrangement which would allow NI importers to benefit from UK free trade agreements.

He said this would “further cement Northern Ireland’s place in the UK”.

The deal could mean greater choice for consumers and greater flexibility for meat processors, but would also mean increased competition for local producers.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme on Thursday, Mr Baker said local farmers would face competition, but believed it was only right that “people should have choice”.

“I can think of at least one producer in Northern Ireland who would like to import Wagyu beef from New Zealand – that is not beef that is produced on the island of Ireland – it’s an important element for consumers to have that extra choice,” he said.

“The arguments for free trade will always run, I‘m firmly on the free trade side of the argument but what I would say is that all these trade deals do include provisions which make sure that we don’t end up swamped with cheap produce.”

The agreement was reached at a meeting of the Joint Committee, which oversee the implementation of the Windsor Framework.