Is a deal with Trump negative for British farmers?

A post-Brexit trade deal with the United States could pose a "serious threat" to the future of British farmers, Britain's former ambassador warns. That reports Business Insider.

Sir Peter Westmacott, who served in Washington between 2012 and 2016 (during the presidency of Barack Obama), tells Business Insider that the administration of the US President Donald Trump will force the British to open markets to cheap American meat as a 'price' for a new bilateral trade deal with Washington.

Damage to agricultural sector
In doing so, he confirms growing concerns among British farmers that an agreement with the US will severely damage the British agricultural sector. “The moment Delaware chicken is sold in Britain (on a large scale) and hormone-produced beef and lamb compete with our farmers in the highlands of Wales and Scotland, many of our farmers and poultry producers are under serious threat," said Westmacott.

“The imported chicken may not taste good and may have been chlorine washed, but the price is very competitive,” he says. “That will be the price for a free trade agreement.” Currently, the European Union (EU) imports of cheaply produced US products, such as 'chlorinated chicken', hormone-treated meat, genetically modified vegetables and milk containing antibiotics.

After Britain leaves the EU, it will have to decide whether those bans will remain in place. However, everything currently points to Washington (when closing any trade deal) will be about lifting it.

Change in legislation
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross warned in November that changing the law will be an essential part of any trade talks with London. Ross also said Britain should remove "unnecessary legislative differences" with the United States.

However, lifting the import restrictions will meet opposition from the vast majority of British farmers. This is because American products are generally a lot cheaper than the domestically produced goods.

British Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Michael Gove has previously made it clear that Britain will not strike a deal that would require accepting lower environmental and health standards. “A future trade deal should be beneficial to British farmers, businesses and consumers,” Gove told BBC Radio 4 last year.

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