Five years after the United Kingdom’s dramatic exit from the European Union, the landscape of UK-EU relations is shifting once more. British exporters, political leaders, and the public are all grappling with the legacy of Brexit, the realities of trade, and the future of national sovereignty. Recent surveys and political moves have brought these tensions and opportunities back into sharp focus, with the food and drink industry at the heart of renewed engagement and political debate.
When the UK left the EU in January 2020, many British food and drink exporters, especially those new to international markets, turned their backs on Europe. According to the Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA), these companies often bypassed the EU altogether, instead targeting markets in the Middle East, the US, and Asia. Europe, it seemed, had landed in the "too difficult to do" box due to new regulatory hurdles and logistical headaches. Exporters who persisted faced daunting obstacles—endless paperwork, customs delays, and the need to overhaul supply chains just to keep their businesses afloat.
Yet by 2025, the tide appears to be turning. Even before the much-anticipated May announcement of a UK-EU reset and a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, there were clear signs that British exporters were once again eyeing the EU as a prime destination for their goods. The FDEA’s 2025 Export Market Survey found that EU countries, especially Germany, ranked among the top focus territories for UK exporters. Around a quarter of respondents sought support to enter or expand in the Nordic region. This trend was echoed in a broader industry survey by professional services firm Johnston Carmichael, which showed Europe outperforming both the UK domestic market and other global regions as a priority for food and drink companies.
What’s driving this renewed interest? For many UK exporters, the answer is simple: geography. Over a third of those surveyed by the FDEA cited "geographic proximity" as the main attraction, pointing to the ease of understanding market dynamics, managing customers, and the favorable speed and cost of transport. Nearly 30% reported that EU retailers and foodservice operators were receptive to British products, while almost a quarter noted positive consumer attitudes towards UK food and drink.
On the other side of the Channel, European distributors are showing increased demand for British brands. The FDEA reports that these distributors are proactively contacting UK companies in search of new products. Interestingly, for EU buyers, the main draw is not proximity but the "quality of products and packaging" offered by British suppliers, as well as local customers specifically seeking UK brands. The EU, with its 440 million relatively affluent consumers, remains a lucrative market for British exporters willing to navigate the challenges.
But those challenges are far from trivial. The FDEA’s polling found that "red tape"—customs, VAT, and paperwork—remains the number one headache for UK exporters. Logistics and supply chain hurdles, such as sending samples, border delays, and issues with groupage, are also major concerns. EU distributors echoed these frustrations, citing the complexity of logistics and supply chain, as well as uncompetitive pricing, as top barriers to trading with the UK. While the recent SPS agreement announcement offers hope for reduced complexity and costs, details and timelines are still unclear, leaving many in a holding pattern.
Despite these obstacles, optimism is growing. Nearly 100% of UK exporters surveyed said they are very or quite likely to export to the EU in the next five years. For them, proximity and the sheer size of the EU market offer compelling reasons to persist, especially now that many have weathered the worst of the post-Brexit pain points. Similarly, nearly 80% of EU distributors reported being very or quite likely to seek UK suppliers in the coming years, motivated by the innovation and quality of British food and drink and a desire to rekindle pre-Brexit trading relationships. Trade shows such as Anuga, SIAL, and ISM are the preferred venues for EU distributors to discover new UK partners, favored by over 40% of those polled.
Amid this commercial thaw, the political debate over the UK’s relationship with the EU is heating up. On August 8, 2025, spiked published a scathing critique of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s so-called "Brexit reset," accusing him of betraying British sovereignty. The article, authored by Brian Monteith, a former member of the Scottish and European parliaments, highlighted a new academic survey led by Dr. Richard Johnson of Queen Mary University of London. Conducted via YouGov with over 4,500 adults, the survey asked straightforward questions about who should set policy in 20 areas previously constrained by EU membership.
The results were unambiguous: "UK governments alone" was the most popular answer in all 20 policy areas, with outright majorities in 17. Even among Labour voters, a majority supported UK sovereignty in 15 areas, excluding AI regulation, data protection, fishing, immigration, and trade rules. Conservative, Reform UK, Liberal Democrat, and Green voters also showed strong support for policy control remaining in British hands. Notably, even among those who voted Remain in 2016, a majority favored UK control in 15 out of 20 policy subjects.
Monteith warned that Starmer’s reset involves ceding control over UK laws to the EU until at least 2029, with the controversial decision to hand over fishing grounds until 2038 drawing particular ire. He argued that each year would bring new demands from Brussels and further erosion of British sovereignty, with little prospect of a referendum or general election to secure a fresh mandate. "Our ability to decide laws democratically will be surgically removed, a sliver at a time, until at least 2029," Monteith wrote, urging the public to oppose what he called Starmer’s "betrayal of British sovereignty."
For exporters and politicians alike, the lessons of Brexit remain vivid. The FDEA community emphasized that export is a "constant learning curve" and that being well-informed, adaptable, and proactive is key to success. They urge exporters not to struggle alone, pointing to the wealth of support available from peers, in-market partners, and international trade experts.
As the UK navigates this next chapter of its relationship with Europe, the challenges of bureaucracy and political compromise remain formidable. Yet, both the business community and the broader public are making it clear: while the EU offers immense opportunities, the desire for self-determination and democratic accountability is not easily set aside. The coming years will test just how well the UK can balance these competing imperatives, but for now, the stakes—both economic and political—could hardly be higher.
