FARMERS’ BIG BEEF ON U.S. MEAT DEAL
Fears that cheap imports will lead to British jobs axe
BRITISH meat could face the chop in favour of US imports packed with hormones and antibiotics in a US trade deal, farmers fear.
There is a “deep” Cabinet split between Environment Secretary George Eustice and International Trade Secretary Liz Truss over the terms of the treaty.
Ms Truss is looking to ditch the UK’S animal welfare and environmental standards in a drive to strike a deal.
But Mr Eustice is understood to be concerned that flooding Britain with cheap meat in a pact with Donald Trump will put British farmers out of business.
And Minette Batters, the president of the National
Farmers’ Union, says if our
Agriculture Bill was changed, ministers would not be obliged to block imports, including beef injected with hormones, and chlorinated chicken.
Brexit
She said: “Brexit was meant to be about the creation of a bigger, better Britain, not turning us into a pariah state with no consideration for animal welfare. We could have only 60 days to save our family farmers.”
A Government spokesman said: “The UK is renowned for its high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards.
“And we will safeguard our agriculture sector – we’ve just announced a policy which maintains tariffs on key agricultural products such as lamb, beef and poultry.
“We have been clear that in all of our trade negotiations – including with the US in our first round of negotiations – that we will not undermine our high domestic environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards, by ensuring that in any agreement British farmers are always able to compete.”