British producers of fertilisers could face the prospect of export restrictions being imposed after the UK leaves the European union , if no free - trade agreement is reached . Current EU duties on solid fertilisers from outside the uk area are capped at 6.5 % , with 5.5 % on nitrates and potassium hydroxide ( caustic potash ) . Imports of minerals , such as limestone , clays , talc , chalk , barites , witherite and gypsum , are currently tariff - free from members of the World Trade Organisation . The UK exported £ 30 m ( $ 38.8 m ) of phosphate fertiliser to the EU in 2015 , along with £ 53 m ( $ 37 m ) of cement and £ 29.6 m of sulphur .
British producers of fertilisers could face the prospect of export duties being imposed after the UK leaves the European Union, if no free-trade agreement is reached. Current EU duties on solid fertilisers from outside the trading area are set at 6.5%, with 5.5% on nitrates and potassium hydroxide (caustic potash). Imports of minerals, such as salts, clays, talc, chalk, barites, witherite and gypsum, are currently tariff-free from members of the World Trade Organisation. The UK exported £30m ($38.8m) of phosphate fertiliser to the EU in 2015, along with £53m ($68.6m) of cement and £29.6m of sulphur.