Brexit: Farmers fear government might slash tariffs on food imports from US

Reports Liz Truss is planning 'big concession package' in trade deal with Donald Trump

A pig farm in Iowa ((Scott Olson 2020 Getty Images))

Farmers have voiced concern over reports that the government is planning to slash tariffs on food imports from the US as part of a planned trade deal.

According to the Financial Times, the international trade secretary Liz Truss is preparing a “big concession package” offer to Donald Trump’s administration as part of negotiations with Washington which began recently. Both sides appear to be eager to do a deal before the presidential elections in November.

Prices of US foodstuffs are typically lower than in the UK, in part because of a less rigorous animal welfare regime, and American farmers have long complained of being excluded from European markets by high tariffs.

Any cuts are likely to be resisted by British farmers who fear their own produce could be undercut on price unless ministers insist on tough requirements for imports to meet current UK standards, which would exclude US products like chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-pumped beef.

National Farmers Union international trade director Nick von Westenholz told the FT the sector would be “very concerned” about the proposals.

“Any concessions UK negotiators give on market access – such as lower or zero tariffs on agricultural goods – must be accompanied by clear conditions on how those goods have been produced,” he said. “Anything else would represent a clear breach of the government’s own explicit red lines in trade negotiations.”

And Labour's shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said: "A UK-US trade deal designed to benefit the big American agricultural corporations may help Donald Trump’s chances of re-election, but it can only be delivered at the expense of food standards here in Britain and the competitiveness of our domestic farming sector.

"We need a government that will stand up for our farmers and consumers in these talks, not one that is desperately trying to please Donald Trump and fill the trade void after Brexit."

Writing in Farmers Weekly, Ms Truss insisted that "our analysis shows that agricultural sectors are set to gain from a US deal", with the potential for the removal of 26 per cent tariffs on British beef and 17 per cent on Cheddar cheese, as well as "similar" benefits to boost lamb exports by as much as £18 million.

She said UK farmers could benefit from cheaper fertiliser, crop protection chemicals and feed, potentially saving an average farm £11,000 annually in 10 years' time.

And she promised: "No UK import standards will be diminished as part of a free trade agreement. We will never undermine our high domestic environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards, ensuring that in any agreement British farmers are always able to compete."

With the first round of UK/US talks due to conclude on Friday, the government last night defeated a backbench bid to guarantee post-Brexit food imports will match the UK’s high food and environmental standards.

Conservative MPs Simon Hoare and Neil Parish led the push for the new Agriculture Bill to require a level playing field between British farmers and those overseas in future trade agreements.

The amendment was defeated by a majority of 51 after environment minister Victoria Prentis told the Commons that all food coming into the country under post-Brexit trade deals “will be required to meet existing import requirements”.

Mr Parish, chair of the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, told MPs that Ms Truss “should actually spend her time going out and dealing with a trade deal that has equivalence and makes sure we actually export our very important animal and environmental welfare”.

He added: “I’d say to the Americans, why don’t you upgrade your production? Why don’t you reduce the density of population of your chicken? Why don’t you reduce the amount of antibiotics you’re using and then you can actually produce better chicken not only for America, it can also come into this country.”

A spokesperson for the Department for International Trade said: “We have been clear that any future deal with the US must work for our consumers, farmers and companies.

“As the government made clear in its negotiating objectives, any agreement will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.”