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UK seeking ‘better deal with EU’, but warned of risks to US trade

By Mark Mansfield
EU flag. Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash

Ministers are seeking “a better deal with the EU to see cheaper food and drink on people’s tables”, the UK Government has said, amid reports it is closing in on a new partnership with the bloc.

Negotiators are close to signing up to the EU’s food and veterinary standards, according to reports by the Telegraph newspaper.

This would allow for easier trade of food produce across the English Channel, and the Irish Sea.

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American food

But closer ties with Europe could shut out American food from Britain, which Donald Trump has indicated he wants to sell more of around the world.

The US president has signalled food standards in Europe and the UK are among the barriers which hamper American imports.

Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost told the Telegraph that “one of the things the Americans most want is access to our food and agriculture market”, as he hit out at suggestions an EU deal was close.

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'Growth'

A Government spokesperson said: “Growth is a priority as part of our Plan for Change, delivering good British jobs and more pounds in people’s pockets.”

“Reducing trade barriers for our businesses is vitally important to that, which is why we are seeking better trading relations with partners across the world – getting a better deal with the EU to see cheaper food and drink on people’s tables, alongside a new economic deal with the US.”

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7 comments

Bilbo

Here's an idea. Perhaps the US could improve their own standards in order to trade more freely with the largest and richest single market in the world.

Reply
Jeff

Sod the US. Unstable nation that disappears innocent people, detains and tortures innocent visitors and now looking to de nation born and bred US people into slave camps. They are going after rights groups, lawyers and the press. Basically anyone who says the truth about trump and dumping DEI. This is not a stable nation to do business with. Brexit has no benefit, we need the EU for safety.

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Alwyn

if there’s a choice between the diversity and high standard of European food and American rubber cheese and hormone-pumped US beef, I’d choose Europe every time!

Reply
Dai ponty

Trumpland should be given a wide berth should be treated like the plague all hell is going to break out on the streets of Trumpland cities

Reply
Rob

Time for Brexiteers to get out of this World War 2 mentality and get into the 2020s. The EU may be a lot of things but it is not a fascist dictatorship, with extermination camps for undesirables or political opponents. The United States on the other hand is no longer a reliable ally. They are on the slippery slope to fascism, who are quite happy to let Ukraine fall to Russia, and like Russia have their own imperialistic ambitions against their neighbours. Even if the Democrats regain the White House in 2028 the precedence has been set. 20 years ago we all thought that George W Bush was the worst president in US history, therefore even though this sounds unthinkable its reasonable to assume that the next republican president will be worse than Trump. Any bilateral agreement with the US would mean that we would be the junior partner, and I can't imagine what bargaining power the UK would have against the US (so much for freedom and sovereignty). The EU on the other hand are our neighbours, and even though I'm not necessarily suggesting rejoining the EU, but our relationship with them should be our upmost priority both militarily and economically.

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Ap Kenneth

How could you even trust Trump to uphold his own deals? He tore up Canada's which he negotiated and signed himself. Plus if the UK made a deal with him now how do you even know what is his baseline? Wait a week and the tariffs might be lower or gone, so how would you know what a "Great" deal is? Then there is the small matter of Northern Ireland, move towards the US with standards and you make the internal barriers within the UK worse and goodness knows what that would do to the political situation there. Then we have the simple matter of geography, it is just easier to trade with Ireland and the rest of the EU if you reduce barriers and checks. Personally if the UK makes any deals it should be with the EU and Canada.

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Steve D.

The UK can't please both, deal with one and you'll alienate the other. As often mentioned here - Trump can't be trusted - closer ties with the EU is the only answer.

Reply

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Time for Brexiteers to get out of this World War 2 mentality and get into the 2020s. The EU may be a lot of things but it is not a fascist dictatorship, with extermination camps for undesirables or political opponents. The United States on...

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