How the East Midlands could benefit from an Australia trade deal

How the East Midlands could benefit from an Australia trade deal

The world-famous East Midlands shoemaking industry, the region’s manufacturers and high-quality food exporters could all be big winners from an Australia free trade deal.

Manufacturing and chemicals: machinery and chemicals exports from the East Midlands to Australia were worth £130m last year. Cutting tariffs of up to 5%, removing red tape and aligning regulations would make exporting easier and open up opportunities for growth.

Shoemaking: cutting the 5% footwear tariff could open up new opportunities for Northampton’s renowned shoemakers, such as Tricker’s, to export more high-end shoes and boots to Australia.

Food: cutting tariffs on food and drink could boost exports for the East Midlands’s food producers. Buxton’s Bradburys Cheese sells nearly $3m of British cheese in Australia every year but wants to boost that by up to 60% with the removal of tariffs on their goods.

Top Three Trade Facts

  • Nearly 1,200 East Mids businesses exported goods to Australia last year.
  • East Mids firms exported goods worth more than £200m to Australia in 2020.
  • Machinery & transport equipment makes up nearly half of all goods exports from the East Mids to Australia, worth nearly £100m last year, up by nearly 8% on 2019.

 

Two graphs in red about importing and exporting to Australia

Case studies

Bradburys Cheese

Bradburys Cheese was established in 1884 in the East Midlands, and now exports to over 30 countries. Its premium quality classic British cheese types can be found in major Australian retailers where sales now approach 3 million Australian dollars every year.

“The current tariff on cheese adds just under £1 (A$1.60) per kilo to the cost of the product at retail and is an extra burden for Australian households and a deterrent to increasing sales. Its removal could cause sales to rise by 50-60% year on year. Quality premium value, in a price sensitive market, will be recognised by the consumer.”

George Paul, Owner and Chairman of Bradburys Cheese

 

Siemens Mobility

Siemens Mobility operates across the UK, including in Lincolnshire.

“The products we manufacture in the UK have similar standards and requirements to Australia, making export a logical next step.

“The removal of up to 5% tariffs on these products through an FTA will increase the competitiveness of UK manufactured goods, supporting UK jobs and skills investment.”

Justin Moss, Head of Sales Electrification for Siemens Mobility

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