Government insists US trade deal won’t lower food standards for UK
Image copyright
EPA
Donald Trump and Theresa May want their countries to sign a free trade deal
Number 10 has insisted that the UK will not lower food standards to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with the US.
It comes after Washington published its objectives for a US-UK trade pact.
The US wants “comprehensive market access” for its farmers’ products that would see more US-made food on British supermarket shelves.
European Union rules currently limit US exports of certain food products, including chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-boosted beef.`
If free of EU trade rules, the US want the UK to remove such so-called “sanitary and physiosanitary” standards on its farm exports.
The 18-page negotiating stance from Washington also demands that the pound not be “manipulated” to improve trade income or make UK products cheaper in the US.
President Trump’s negotiators would also like the NHS to not discriminate against US pharmaceuticals and medical devices when purchasing goods and services.
