Greater Lincolnshire’s manufacturing and farming sectors are set to benefit from recent UK trade agreements with the US, EU, and India, which will deliver a more stable trade environment and improved market access.
Around 39,000 manufacturing jobs in the region and 2,700 in Scunthorpe’s steelworks stand to gain from removing the 25% US tariff on UK steel exports. The UK exported £343 million worth of steel products to the US in 2024, and this new agreement protects a significant portion of the industry’s national workforce.
The revised agreement with the EU is expected to ease customs procedures and reduce checks in agriculture and food production, providing simpler access to the UK’s largest export market. Lower trade friction and greater continuity could benefit approximately 100,000 people in Lincolnshire’s food sector.
The UK-India deal includes provisions for reduced prices and increased availability of imported goods such as clothing and food. It also maintains UK standards in agriculture and protects local producers from being undercut.
The government says the combined impact of these deals is expected to drive inward investment and improve business confidence across the region. The changes align with broader plans to stimulate economic growth across the UK’s regions, emphasizing job retention, trade stability, and supply chain resilience.
