After a huge cross-Government effort over the past few years, this week saw Taiwan approve the UK’s longstanding application to export pork to the Taiwanese market. The UK is one of only nine countries to receive such access.

British pork producers will now have full access to a market with one of the highest levels of pork consumption per capita in the world. The agreement is expected to be worth around £50m to the UK economy over the next 5 years, according to a report by Flanders Trade and Investment.

This represents a significant win for British farmers and food producers; but more than that, it is a victory for free and fair trade. As we have seen, now more than ever, it is vital we forge new trading relationships and encourage open and free trade in the face of rising protectionism.

And as we leave the EU, opening up new markets like these is a key step towards becoming a truly global Britain, looking beyond the familiar to the world’s fastest growing region. Total trade between the UK and the Asia Pacific (APAC) region was worthy more than £88 billion in 2016, where there is vast potential to unlock unrivalled opportunities for UK exporters and investors.

With this in mind, the UK Government has had 20 trade discussions with Taiwan in recent years. Later this year we will hold the 21st meeting, where we will continue to tackle non-tariff market access barriers and improve our trading relationship. We do not need to wait until March 2019 to build these bridges.

This particular win for the British pork industry has already served to demonstrate the world-leading quality of UK produce and the high food, animal welfare and environmental standards which we are committed to maintaining as we leave the EU.

As a result of that reputation, food and drink exports continue to thrive in the UK. With the opening up of the Taiwanese market alongside other recent successes such as China lifting its two-decade long ban on UK beef, last year’s record £22 billion of exports looks to stay on the up.

Over the coming months and years, the Department for International Trade as an international economic department will continue to offer expert advice to businesses seeking to enter into overseas markets for the first time, supporting them to take advantage of the vast opportunities made available to us as we look beyond our neighbours on the Continent.

And I look forward to seeing the UK’s food and drink industry go from strength-to-strength as free trade opens yet more of the globe’s doors to world-famous British fare.