UK-Greenland trade deal talks resume to deliver cheaper seafood for British shoppers
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Negotiations resume on UK-Greenland trade deal to slash tariffs on over £70m of seafood imports, cutting prices for British shoppers
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Agreement will seek to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and encourage further trade to boost economic growth and security, supporting the Plan for Change
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Deeper strategic partnership with all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark will deliver security and prosperity in the Arctic, North Atlantic and at home
British shoppers and restaurants could see the price of seafood fall with negotiations restarting on the UK’s trade deal with Greenland.
Seafood products became subject to tariffs of up to 20% when the UK left the EU, increasing costs and restricting choice for British shoppers as well as restaurants and the seafood processing sector.
A new agreement could reverse this by eliminating tariffs to benefit consumers and businesses including the likes of Grimsby Fish Market and Royal Greenland UK. Giving British businesses greater and more targeted access to global markets to help drive growth is a key part of the UK’s Trade Strategy.
Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are central partners in the Arctic and North Atlantic, regions of strategic importance to UK and NATO security and prosperity. Deepening long-term relationships will support our shared economic interests, demonstrate Britain’s commitment to the Arctic and secure strong foundations as part of the Plan for Change.
The announcement follows UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attending the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen of Greenland and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark.
Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:
This partnership represents an opportunity to restore our trading relationship with Greenland and deliver real benefits for British families and businesses.
By eliminating tariffs on Greenlandic seafood, we can help to bring down prices on supermarket shelves whilst supporting thousands of jobs in our fish-packing industry, putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.
Andrew Wrigley, Country Director at Royal Greenland UK, said:
We welcome the renewed negotiations on a trade agreement between Greenland and the United Kingdom. A modernised deal that reduces tariffs on seafood would strengthen our long-standing commercial ties and ensure continued access to high-quality, sustainably sourced seafood for our British consumers.
For Royal Greenland, it represents not only an economic opportunity but also a reaffirmation of our role as a reliable trading partner in the North Atlantic. We see this as a step towards deeper cooperation built on shared interests and mutual respect.
Martyn Boyers, Chief Executive of Grimsby Fish Market and Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, said:
Greenland plays an important role in the Seafood Industry and historically there have been strong partnerships with the UK, creating trade and opportunities for both sides.
Creating a platform for talks to restart and further cooperation can only be a good thing, especially for Grimsby, where a lot of the product imported from Greenland – particularly frozen prawns and white fish – is brought for packing by local seafood businesses.
Greenland remains a key exporter of seafood to the UK, with the UK importing around £70 million seafood products from Greenland each year; primarily comprising prawns, shrimp, and cod.
The deal could also support the UK’s seafood processing industry, which employed almost 16,000 people in 2024.
Beyond seafood, the UK will seek a deal that strengthens supply chains that could offer opportunities in critical minerals, where UK firms currently hold a third of mining licences in Greenland.
Developing these supply chains responsibly together with Greenland and our partners will safeguard strategically important industries, strengthen British and European long-term economic security and reduce dependence on volatile global markets.
Eldur Olafsson, CEO of UK listed Amaroq Ltd, said:
The resumption of talks is very good news for Greenland’s emerging mining sector and reaffirms the strategic importance of Greenland’s mineral resources to the global economy.
As the most active mining and exploration company in Greenland, including of critical metals such as copper and nickel, we look forward to collaborating with the UK to establish a sustainable supply chain for these essential materials.
This would be Greenland’s first bilateral free trade agreement and aims to be a platform for deeper cooperation spanning research and innovation, climate change, sustainable tourism, renewable energy and education. This builds on the UK’s recent £81m investment in the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) programme on Greenland climate tipping points.
Together with Greenland and Denmark, the UK is delivering a more prosperous and secure Arctic.
Notes to editors:
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Between 2022 and 2024 the UK imported an average £70 million seafood from Greenland each year. Sourced from HMRC import data by preference July 2025 – data on a country of origin basis.
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Employment figures sourced from Seafish – Seafood Processing Industry Performance 2024. In 2024 seafood processors employed 15,868 FTE workers.
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Negotiations for a UK-Greenland Free Trade Agreement opened in 2022, to reinstate tariff-free trade that ended when the UK left the EU. This agreement was paused prior to the UK’s 2024 general election.
