Businesses have been visited by a government trade minister to help showcase how they can reap the rewards of new trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.
International Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston visited distillery Brighton Gin and e-commerce business Tiny Box Company as the companies look to push their products abroad.
Small businesses will be able to export to Australia and New Zealand without tariffs under new trade agreements which are projected to boost the economy in the South East by up to £85 million.
Kathy Caton, founder of Brighton Gin, said: "Our mission is to take the Spirit of Brighton to the world – having trade deals in place helps to lower duties and barriers to entry, which in turn enables us to invest more money in other areas such as sales and marketing”
“The more we stand shoulder to shoulder and show the best of British produce to the world, the better.
“We are looking forward to continuing to work with the Department for International Trade and seeing the benefits of future trade deals to support British businesses in exporting around the world.”
Brighton Gin’s international exports include to Taiwan, Hong Kong and The Netherlands as well as new markets.
Around 10 per cent of Tiny Box’s revenue comes from exports, helping to make the Uckfield-based company the largest eco-friendly e-commerce gift box company in the UK with 120,000 customers.
Post-Brexit trade deals with New Zealand and Australia now mean that businesses in the UK can export to the countries without having to pay a five per cent tariff.
Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “It’s great to be in Sussex to hear about the global success stories of local businesses producing fantastic British products which will benefit from our new trade deals.
“Trade means jobs, economic growth and it puts money in people’s pockets. We are cutting tariffs and smashing barriers to business so companies like these can sell overseas to new and exciting markets all around the world.
“I’d encourage others – both here in Sussex and across the country – to take advantage of the opportunities we’re creating.”
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