The four UK farming unions have said that the government must stand up for UK agriculture in any trade negotiations with the US.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) said farmers and growers across the UK have been let down by previous governments with recent trade deals.
Following the chancellors Spring Statement where she announced increased security and defence spending, the NFU called for greater investment in food security.
The NFU said the government has repeatedly promised that it would safeguard UK farming, and its core standards of food safety, animal welfare, and environmental protection in any future trade negotiations.
In a joint statement, NFU President Tom Bradshaw, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones, NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon, and Ulster Farmers Union President William Irvine said:
“It’s extremely concerning to see media reports that the UK government is trying to avoid US tariffs by seeking an urgent trade deal.
“With the UK farming sector already under huge strain, with confidence at an all-time low and investment dropping day by day, it cannot deal with another trade deal which sells out domestic food and farming.
“This is this government’s first test to see if it will do what it promised and stand up for UK farming, or if it will roll over under pressure from an aggressive US administration.
“Absolutely no one wants to see hormone-treated beef, or pork or chicken treated with antimicrobial washes, which are banned here in the UK, sold on our market.
“Those ways of production were banned in the 80s and 90s for a reason. They don’t reflect our values and the farm to fork approach we are proud of in the UK, something we know the British people care deeply about.”
Chlorinated chicken
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has condemned comments made by Reform leader Nigel Farage that he would allow chlorine-treated chicken to be brought to the UK as part of a US trade deal.
Speaking on the Today Programme this morning, Farage said the US would “want US agricultural products to be sold in Britain” as part of any deal.
Asked whether he was in favour of allowing chlorine-treated chicken to be sold in the UK, Farage said: “I would allow consumers in America to buy our products and consumers here to buy their products, and provided we have the right labelling, that’s good.”
Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee, Carmichael said: “This is typical of Farage the plastic patriot: undermining British farmers for the benefit of his boss Donald Trump. Farage does not know the least bit about farming communities and his utter ignorance is on full display here.
“British farmers are rightly proud of the high standards we have for the food we produce in the UK. That is something we should support and celebrate, not denigrate.
“The last thing we need is chlorine-treated chicken or hormone-treated beef on our supermarket shelves.”
