US targets Britain’s pork, poultry and seafood markets

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Donald Trump’s Agriculture Secretary said on Tuesday that Britain’s pork, poultry, rice and marine sectors were monitoring a million dollars of dollars in the United States.

Brook Rollins said that these sectors were “in front of the line” in the ongoing discussion Trade agreement Last week was announced, which our beef and biothanol producers increased access to the UK market.

Washington has Agreement As an opportunity for $ 5 billion for American farmers, feathers and producers, the preliminary text of the contract cover hormone -free US beef and about $ 950 million trade in Ethanley.

Asked about more products under a press conference in London on Tuesday, Rollins said, “Of course, pork and poultry are at the front of the lines.”

He added: “Food protection national protection. For example, the UK really depends on China and Russia for your marine food. There is extraordinary best-class seafood in America. Let’s talk about that.”

These comments may express concerns among British farmers and food producers who have already raised alarms about possible decrease by cheap imports in the United States that cannot meet UK Or EU production value.

There are high tariffs on many agricultural products, including 72 pens per kg of pork in the UK, 107p on duck -pigs and 18 percent on the shrimp.

“We are more happy to compete on such basis,” said Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council. “But if we allow the imports produced in the values ​​underneath us, it is unfair competition”

Rollins suggested that some US exporters would adjust to meet British expectations, since last week he said that an industry was “not behaved more wrongly than our agriculture.”

When he protected hormone-treatment beef and chlorine chicken protection, he said that beef producers could be ready to hormone to sell to the United Kingdom, and US chicken “about 5 percent” was now washed with chlorine.

American manufacturers are constantly observing what markets look like and if the markets call for certain types, or they have more opportunities anywhere, I think we, possible, have seen some movement in the market “, adding Rollins.

Griffiths opposed that US producers with chemical washing “it was finally the standard practice of cleaning” – not limited to chlorine.

In comparison, he said that British poultry farmers need to promote hygiene throughout the process and only use water. It’s very expensive, he added.

The UK ministers repeatedly emphasized that chlorine-contained chicken and hormone-treatment beef beef would be illegal in Britain.

Rolins also emphasized the mutual benefit for exporters in the UK: “Although we are interested in getting American beef, ethanol [and] Hopefully the line, rice, marine food, other products are coming to your country, it is also about getting more products in your country. “

Steve Reid, Secretary of the UK Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said the trade agreement with the United States “will” protect the British farmers and protect our food security “.

“We have always made clear that this government will protect the British farmers and support our high animal welfare and environmental standards,” he added.

This article has been amended to clear the US Secretary of Agriculture.