CPTPP: An alternative perspective
The “UK approach to joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)” was released by the government in October 2021. a 66-page document arguing in favor of joining the 11 current members of a trading bloc with over 500 million people and a value of over £9 trillion.
When you go back and read it again, you’ll see that while the words “Pork” and “Chicken” are stated once, the words “Beef” and “Lamb” are used three times! In addition, the word “Halal” is not.After a gap of eighteen months, on Friday, March 31, 2023, a record number of announcements regarding the UK’s agreement to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) were made on the gov.uk pages.
One of them, titled “Promotional Material: Top 10 Benefits for the UK,” announced “a trade deal with Malaysia for the first time” at number seven.It is to be hoped that markets for UK Halal Lamb and Poultry can be developed, as 63.5 percent of Malaysia’s population is Muslim.However, why are you so uncomfortable with the prospect of selling “Halal” to Malaysia, the Gulf States, or any other trade country where there is a Muslim majority?
Imagining large—should it be larger?
As a nation, we take great pride in our superior food safety and high standards of animal welfare, two attributes that consumers everywhere should embrace.In reality, going back to page seven (2.7.5) of the 66-page UK approach to entering the CPTPP, it states:
Additionally, these customers are becoming more and more hungry for premium meat products; as evidenced by the fact that CPTPP agri-food imports are expanding at a rate twice that of the EU. By the end of the decade, the CPTPP countries are expected to account for 25% of the world’s meat product import demand, which might potentially result in more British beef and lamb being found in shops throughout Asia Pacific and the Americas.
At a conference for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in late 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that “China would actively consider joining CPTPP.” which, considering that Taiwan applied to join a year later, may make for an intriguing geopolitical standoff.
Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Uruguay are among the other countries that are now applying. South Korea and Thailand are reportedly preparing to apply as well, and Ukraine and the Philippines are reportedly thinking about joining.A trading block like that, whoah. Nearly two billion people and untold billions of dollars in market capitalization.
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Prepare yourself to seize the chance.
Therefore, it’s critical that the government build on the successes the UK has had in joining and assist the country’s meat and poultry sector in taking advantage of the potential presented by the new applications.
In addition, the sector must tailor its messaging to the current opportunities rather than depending solely on clients approaching it. We shouldn’t be afraid to create and market things unique to our nation rather than just pushing what we make and eat in the UK in the hopes of connecting with like-minded consumers.
This means we have to have positive discussions with buyers regarding our manufacturing capabilities to produce for their population’s requirements and their retailers’ private label ranges, in addition to selling everything we produce and are allowed to export to every market we now have access to.
To protect and advance the morality of our farmers, production standards, cleanliness, food safety, and most importantly, the caliber of our meat and poultry, we must be ready to face challenges and exude confidence.It is imperative that the United Kingdom extends its reach beyond the Comprehensive Political-Strategic Partnership (CPTPP) and considers the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which boasts 15 countries, seven of which are CPTPP members.
One British sausage exporter previously stated that he views his company as a worldwide enterprise with its headquarters in the UK rather than as a British company that exports. Thanks to technology and digital document transfer, he no longer sees the market potential in the so-called Far East as being all that different from the Near East.
With a range of resources available to support firms of all sizes, from PLCs to SMEs, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s Blueprint for Exports may help the meat and poultry industry realize the potential of global markets.Do your studies, take advantage of the resources available, put your passport in your pocket, and travel. Each and every new trade agreement.