Ministers plot to allow chlorinated chicken in to UK supermarkets
Ministers plot to allow chlorinated chicken and other poor-quality US imports in to UK supermarkets under ‘dual tariff scheme’ as they seek quick trade deal with Donald Trump
- Scheme would allow heavy duties on low-quality imports like chlorine chicken
- But better quality imports would face lighter duties if the US agreed to terms
- Trade Secretary Liz Truss wants a quick deal with the Trump administration
Ministers are planning to cave in to American pressures and allow chlorinated chicken and other low-quality imports on to UK supermarket shelves.
They are said to be seeking a ‘dual tariff’ scheme that would see little or no import duties placed on food and produce that meets current high UK standards, but slap hefty tolls on poor quality items.
It would allow things like the chemically treated poultry and hormone-fed beef to be imported to the UK but make them expensive and therefore make them less likely to appear.
Opening up the UK to US agri-business has been the main source of divergence between the US and UK over the post-Brexit agreement.
It comes as ministers led by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss seek a quick deal with the Trump administration, in order to have it completed before November’s presidential election.
‘The idea of a dual-tariff regime is that the upper band would remove any economic advantage that foreign producers would gain through lower animal welfare standards,’ a Government source told the Telegraph.
Ministers led by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss (left) want a quick deal with the Trump administration, but the NFU, led by Minette Batters (right) want an independent commission into imports
Ms Truss and the US trade representative Robert Lighthizer formally begin the UK-US trade talks during a video conference a month ago
‘British farmers would also have a competitive advantage, even with goods that are produced to high standards, because of the lower tariff regime applied to imports.’
However the idea is still likely to face opposition from those who wish the produce – which would be banned if we were still in the EU – to enter the UK.
A campaign by the National Farmers’ Union to ban low quality imports has attracted almost 400,000 signatures and attracted support from high profile figures including Jamie Oliver.
Its president Minette Batters told the Telegraph: ‘It’s a significant step forwards that the Government has recognised the damage it would do to our farmers, who have to abide by the highest rung of the ladder, if we import food that wouldn’t even get on the lowest rung of the ladder when it comes to food standards.
‘But we would call on the Government once again to accept the need for an independent food and farming standards commission to look at the proposals for trade deals.
‘There has been an ongoing disagreement between Defra [the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] and the Department of International Trade which is why we need a stand-alone bridge that can advise the Government.’
The threat of the products entering the UK has been used by those seeking to delay the UK’s final split from the EU in December.
They argue that the coronavirus pandemic, means that the transition period should be extended – which would delay the start of any trade regime with the US.
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Alistair Carmichael told the Commons today that despite the Government’s public commitments, food produced to a lower standard – like chlorinated chicken – could end up on British supermarket shelves.
He said: ‘Now in fact we hear that as a consequence of the so-called dual tariff process it is quite possible we will see such products being imported to this country.’
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