The United States targets pork, poultry and seafood markets in Britain

Digest opened free editor

Rola Khaleda, FT editor, chooses her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Donald Trump’s Agricultural Minister of Agriculture said on Tuesday that the United States is looking forward to a millions of dollars in poultry, poultry, rice and seafood sectors in Britain, as it is looking to expand its trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

Brock Rollins said that these sectors were “at the forefront of the line” in the ongoing negotiations to build on them The commercial deal It was announced last week, which gave us the producers of beef and bithia and sought to reach the UK market.

Washington has Description of the deal As an opportunity of $ 5 billion for American farmers, livestock and producers, but the initial text of the agreement covers only about $ 950 million of trade in American beef and hormone -free ethanol.

“It is certain that pork and poultry are at the front of the line, along with rice and seafood,” Rollins told a press conference in London on Tuesday.

“Food security is national security. For example, the UK really depends on China and Russia for your seafood. America has the best unusual seafood in its class. Let’s talk about it.”

The notes are likely to cause concern between British farmers and food producers, who have already sparked warnings about the possibility of undermining them through the cheapest American imports that may not meet UK Or European Union production standards.

The UK has high definitions on many agricultural products including up to 72 pence per kilogram on pork, 107 pixels on poultry, and 18 percent on the shrimp.

“We are more than happy to compete on a similar basis like,” said Richard Griffiths, CEO of the British Poultry Council. “But if we allow the imports that are produced according to the standards below it, this is an unfair competition.”

Rollins suggested that some American exporters will you will follow to meet British expectations, in softening from last week when she said that the industry was not dealt with “more unfair than our agricultural industry.”

While she defended the safety of beef treated with hormones and chicken, she said that beef producers may be ready to abandon hormones in order to sell to the United Kingdom and stressed “about 5 percent” of American chicken is now washed with chlorine.

Rollins added that the American producers “are constantly watching how the markets look, and if the markets call for a specific type, or have more opportunities somewhere, then I think we are, potentially, we see some movement in the market,” added Rollins.

Griffits replied that among the American producers “one of the usual cleaning practices at the end” with chemical washing – including but not limited to chlorine.

On the other hand, he said, British poultry farmers must enhance hygiene throughout the entire process, and they can only use water. He added that this is much more expensive.

UK ministers have repeatedly insisted that spoiled chicken and hormone treated beef will remain illegal in Britain.

Rollins also emphasized the mutual benefits of the UK exporters: “In fact, we are excited to get American beef and ethanol (and) we hope that rice, seafood and other products will be to your country, and this is also related to getting more products of your country in our products as well.”

Steve Reed, UK Minister of Environment, and Minister of Food Affairs and Rural Affairs, said that the commercial deal with the United States “will” protect British farmers and secure our food security. “

He added: “We have always been clear that this government will protect British farmers and support our high livelihood of environmental animals and standards.”

This article was modified to clarify that the comments were made by the US Secretary of Agriculture.