Wine and honey prices are set to fall after 'good progress' in post-Brexit free trade deal talks with New Zealand

Cheaper wine and honey could be on the way after officials last night boasted of 'good progress' being made in efforts to secure a free trade deal with New Zealand.

A post-Brexit accord could see prices cut on popular New Zealand wines, which currently face tariffs of up to 20p a bottle.

The price of apples and Manuka honey could also be slashed. 

Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: 'We are both big fans of each other's high-quality products'

More than £42 million of the fruit and £32 million of honey were imported last year, despite tariffs of 8 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: 'We are both big fans of each other's high-quality products, so this could be a huge boost that allows British shoppers to enjoy lower prices and British exports to be even more competitive.'

The associated tariffs could be wiped out as part of a free trade agreement, the Government said.

Officials said 'good progress' had been made following the end of the sixth round of trade talks with Wellington last month as confidence grows about striking a deal.

The Department for International Trade talked up what fresh trading terms could mean for British exporters, suggesting they could 'gain an advantage over international rivals in the New Zealand import market', which is expected to grow by 30% by 2030.

British-made products such as Beefeater gin and Belvoir soft drinks currently face a tariff of 5% when entering New Zealand, as do products from chocolate to cheese and crisps.

The UK's fashion industry sold £30 million worth of clothes to New Zealand last year, with negotiators looking to ensure the 10% tariffs on clothing is scrapped as part of a new agreement.

Cars are the UK's biggest export to New Zealand, with £133 million worth sold last year.  

The price of apples and Manuka honey could also be slashed. Pictured, Rowsl Manuka Honey

The figures comes after a survey by consumer group Which? found that more than two-thirds of the UK public feel 'left in the dark' about the impact that post-Brexit trade deals struck by the Government will have.

A quarter of the 3,000 consumers who took part in the poll said they felt the Government was 'not at all open' about the impact new trade deals will have – a finding ministers seem keen to reverse with its latest assessment of the potential benefits of a future New Zealand deal.

It also follows criticism being levelled at the Government's trade deal agreed with Australia, with British farmers predicting it could see them undercut by imported produce that does not match the same standards as UK-grown produce.