Rural communities could be destroyed if UK signs US trade deal, says former food tsar | Farming

The former government food said that rural societies in Britain can be “destroyed”, if the ministers fall on an American trade deal that undermines British agricultural standards.

The ministers are working on a new trade deal with the United States, after the attempts of the exit of Britain stopped from the European Union. The unpopular agreements signed at the time with Australia and New Zealand were distinguished by a customs tariff to beef and pregnancy and accused of undermining farmers in the United Kingdom, who govern it with the standards of luxury higher than their counterparts. Australia, in a commercial deal signed by Liz Treos in late 2021, which entered into force in 2023, I was given Detailed health standards and phytosanitary (SPS) aims not to “not” more than needed to protect human life and health. “

But the customs tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump, along with a batch of the United Kingdom’s work government for economic growth, caused the efforts made by efforts to accelerate a deal, which is expected, as some sources say, within weeks. The United Kingdom is currently It is subject to 10 % tariffs Trump imposed on the world, 25 % on aluminum, steel and cars.

There are concerns about some sectors that the American deal that is placed will allow the United States to access the UK agricultural market and lead to a similar situation. It reports that the American side presses the UK to weaken SPS standards and give free customs tariffs to some meat products.

Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds has excluded food imports such as hormones and chlorine wash, and said that there are American products that currently meet commercial standards.

but Henry Dembeby, From the previous government books Food strategyJoin farmers in a warning of an unsuccessful deal for food producers in the United Kingdom.

“There is no use in creating a way to cultivate in this country that produces nourishing food, restores the environment and has high levels of animal care, then imports foods that are produced in ways that would be illegal for farmers – you are just exporting these damages abroad, and at the same time destroying our rural societies. It is clear that he will not do thisAnd you must adhere to this promise. “

Labor Representative Clayef Louis urged the ministers to agree with the standards of the European Union instead of sacrificing agriculture for an American trade deal.

“Since Britain’s exit from the European Union, the United Kingdom The drift started One of the supreme nutritional and environmental standards of the European Union. Now we face pressure from American administration, as the champions have canceled the companies -led agriculture, which require access to products that are processed more and the lowest level. So when the ministers talk about the “growth” of trade, we have to ask: Growth for whom? Certainly not for British farmers, food security or the environment.

“The UK must return to Europe – towards high standards, democratic accountability and commercial policies that serve people, not just profits.”

Farmers, are already angry at the government Changes in the inheritance tax On agricultural lands, new protests are expected to bring if this deal continues.

“There are dangerous concerns that the American administration is pressuring the UK government to weaken its SPS standards as a privilege of low definitions or as part of a new commercial deal. This may lead to imports of products that will be illegal for farmers in a local production,” said Tom Bradchu, President of the National Farmers Syndicate, said.

“British farmers and farmers support some of the highest standards in the world. The audience has repeatedly showed that they want beef, pork and chicken that they buy responsibly and do not use the methods that were truly banned in the UK decades ago.”

Martin Lines, CEO of The Nature Friendly Agriculture The network added: “The government has been elected with a promise not to undermine the food standards in the United Kingdom through imported products, and it is important to adhere to this. We cannot ask British farmers to maintain environmental and high -time standards while opening the door to imported imports in many weaker regulations.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Business and Trade He said: “The United States is an indispensable ally and negotiations on the economic prosperity deal that enhances our current trade relationship. We will only sign trade agreements that are in line with the national interests of the United Kingdom and we will never reduce our high nutritional standards.”