Countryside Alliance responds to Anglo-American trade agreement

Following news of the US - UK trade agreement, Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance said: 

"While the details of the concessions on US exports remain unclear, there are clear implications for both consumers and farmers in the UK.

"Consumers in the UK currently enjoy British agricultural products including beef that is reared to some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world. It is imperative that any and all US food products being sold in this country should be labelled as such, and that the conditions under which  they have been produced should be clearly advertised to British buyers, so they can make informed decisions.

"We must also note the drastic effect that US exports could have on British farmers. This deal must not undermine the UK farming industry, which is already facing enough difficulties because of controversial government policies such as the Family Farm Tax and sudden closure of the SFI scheme.

"Food security is of the utmost importance to the nation, and it is crucial that the government does not throw already struggling farmers under the bus in an attempt to secure lower tariffs for other industries.

"This is only the start of the process of a trade deal between the UK and the US, and it is vital that neither British food standards nor British food security are compromised by future arrangements."