Post-Brexit sales of British farm products to EU fall by 37%

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Lisa O’CarrollFebruary 7, 2026 at 01:00 PM

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medium article 3 min

Since Brexit, British farm product exports to the EU have fallen by 37.4% in the five years since 2019, according to a National Farmers' Union analysis of HMRC data. The decline, impacting sectors like poultry, beef, lamb, and dairy, is attributed to trade barriers erected after the UK's departure from the EU. The NFU warns that restoring lost market share will require significant time and effort. To address these and other issues, the UK and EU are establishing regular political phone meetings to facilitate smoother negotiations on farming and other elements of their post-Brexit relationship. The goal is to proactively resolve issues before the next leaders' summit, aiming for positive outcomes and continued progress in the relationship.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Safe 30% HMRC 40% Nick Thomas-Symonds ×250% Maroš Šefčovič ×250% Tom Bradshaw 60% National Farmers’ Union ×370% UK ×680% European Union ×1090%

Keywords

brexit 100% trade barriers 80% farm products 70% eu 70% exports 60% national farmers’ union 60% political negotiations 50% trade deal 50% poultry sector 40% beef exports 40%