UK's food sellers welcome EU deal UK fishermen feel betrayed20 May 2025 20 May 2025 2 minute read 2 minute read By: By: Global Ag Media EuropeBritain's food sellers and producers, both large and small, welcomed a deal with the European Union to cut border red tape, saying it would reduce costs and ease trade for both sides, reported Reuters. The UK did, however, concede concessions on fishing rights, with the two sides agreeing that British and EU vessels would have access to each other's waters for 12 years. The industry's Food and Drink Federation said UK food and drink exports to Europe had fallen by a third since 2019. He added that some European food producers who had given up exporting to the UK would resume doing business. Britain's biggest retailers also welcomed the move, with Marks & Spencer's food boss Alex Freudmann saying it would remove "pointless bureaucracy".