FDF Statement in response to ‘everyday fixes’ tariff suspensions

On Monday 26 October, ahead of the 2026 Autumn Budget, Treasury announced a range of ‘everyday fixes’ including the suspension of tariffs on 100 food and drink products.

FDF’s response to the announcement is below.

Balwinder Dhoot, Director of Sustainability and Growth, The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), said:

“Food manufacturers are committed to keeping costs as low as they can for consumers and removing tariffs from key ingredients can help with this. However, we are concerned about removing tariffs on finished food and drink products that are manufactured here in the UK. Doing this would have a limited impact on prices, while hitting British businesses and jobs.

“It’s more expensive to make food and drink here in the UK than in many of our close neighbours, as businesses face such high energy costs. If government wants to help UK shoppers and protect jobs, they would be better off looking at bringing down these costs, for example by extending existing energy relief to include food and drink manufacturing.”