Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. is focusing on billions of dollars in the UK’s pork, poultry, rice and seafood sector as it hopes to expand its trade deal with the UK.
Brooke Rollins said the departments were “on the line” in ongoing negotiations to establish a trade deal announced last week, which allowed our beef and bioethanol producers to expand access to the UK market.
Washington touted the deal as a $5 billion opportunity for American farmers, ranchers and producers, but the initial text of the deal only covered about $950 million in trade in hormone-free U.S. beef and ethanol.
"Of course, pork and poultry, as well as rice and seafood are all in front of the production line," Rollins said at a press conference in London on Tuesday.
She added: "Food security is national security. For example, the UK does rely on China and Russia to provide your seafood. The US has extraordinary first-class seafood. Let's talk about that."
These comments are likely to have attracted the attention of British farmers and food producers who have issued an alarm that they may be weakened by U.S. imports that may not meet UK or EU production standards.
The UK imposes high tariffs on many agricultural products, including up to 72 pence per kilogram of pork, 107 pence per poultry and 18% of shrimp.
"We would be happy to compete in a similar way," said Richard Griffiths, CEO of the British Poultry Commission. "But if we allow imports produced under our standards, it is unfair competition."
Rollins suggested some U.S. export chambers of commerce adjust to meet UK expectations because last week she said there is no more unfair treatment of the industry than our agricultural sector”.
Although she defended the safety of hormone-treated beef and chlorinated chicken, she said beef producers may be ready to throw away the hormones to sell to the UK, stressing that “only about 5% of American chicken” are now washed with chlorine.
Rollins added that U.S. producers “have been looking at the look of the market, and if the market calls for a specific type, or they have more opportunities somewhere, then I think we might see some movement in the market.”
Griffiths countered that among American producers, “the standard practices that ultimately need to be cleaned up” (including but not limited to chlorine).
By contrast, British poultry farmers must promote sanitation throughout the process and use only water. It's even more expensive, he added.
British ministers have repeatedly insisted that in the UK, chlorone and hormone-treated beef will remain illegal.
Rollins also highlighted the reciprocal benefits for UK exporters: “In fact, we are excited to get American beef, ethanol (and) hopefully along the route, rice, seafood, other products into your country, but it’s also about incorporating more products from your country into our country.”
British Minister of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said the trade agreement with the United States would “protect British farmers and ensure our food security”.
He added: "We have always been clear that this government will protect British farmers and uphold our high animal welfare and environmental standards."
This article has been revised to clarify that these comments were published by the US Secretary of Agriculture.