The NFU and NPA have issued cautious responses to the US-UK trade deal announced by president Donald Trump and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer today.
Details are still relatively thin on the ground, but the UK government said the deal provides ‘unprecedented market access for British farmers with protections on food standards maintained’.
President Trump said: “The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers.
“The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products. This is now turning out to be, really, a great deal for both countries.”
Sir Keir said: “This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. It’s going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.”
A US fact sheet on the deal said it would ‘significantly expand US market access in the UK, creating a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for US farmers, ranchers, and producers. This includes more than $700 million in ethanol exports and $250 million in other agricultural products, like beef.
Speaking in the White House, US secretary of agriculture, Brooke Rollins said the deal would provide ‘exponential’ growth in US beef exports to the UK, and the president and his officials said other agricultural commodities would also benefit.
The US fact sheet said the UK ‘maintains certain tariff and non-tariff barriers that restrict market access and create an unfair playing field for American workers and businesses’. For example, the UK imposes tariffs that can exceed 125% on meat, poultry, and dairy products on top of maintaining non-science-based standards that adversely affect US exports.
Asked directly on whether he would like US hormone-treated beef and chlorine-washed chicken permitted under the deal, Mr Trump said US agriculture was big enough to provide whatever sort of product the UK wanted.
UK standards
Commenting on X, Defra secretary Steve Reed insisted the deal protects UK food production standards.
“Labour promised to uphold the highest agricultural standards which is exactly what the US trade deal does,” he said. “The Tories sold our farmers down the river with their dodgy trade deals. The deal we’ve signed today will protect British farmers and uphold our high animal welfare and environmental standards.
“Imports of hormone treated beef and chlorinated chicken remain illegal. Any agricultural imports coming into the UK will have to meet our high food (SPS) standards.
“For the first time ever, this deal will open up exclusive access for UK beef farmers to the US. This is a major opportunity for British farmers to increase their exports to the world’s largest consumer market, helping them to grow their businesses.”
Protecting agriculture
Farming and meat industry leaders welcomed the potential new export opportunities and the headline assurances on imports but stressed that it was vital that UK standards are protected under the new trade arrangements.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “We find ourselves in this position as a direct result of tariffs introduced by the US administration in April. This is not something anybody wanted.
“Since then, we have worked tirelessly on behalf of British agriculture, engaging closely with the UK government to ensure our farmers receive a fair and balanced outcome within this deal and that the public is not exposed to lower standard produce.
“We appreciate the government’s efforts in listening to our concerns, particularly around maintaining high standards, protecting sensitive agricultural sectors and securing reciprocal access for beef.
“For several years, we’ve campaigned with the UK’s agricultural attachés in Washington for market access for British beef, a product globally respected for its quality and strong environmental credentials. These efforts have contributed to enabling the UK government to secure ring-fenced access for British beef exports to the US.
“However, the inclusion of a significant volume of bioethanol in the deal raises concerns for British arable farmers. We’ll be engaging closely with our members to help them understand and prepare for the potential impact.”
“Our biggest concern is that two agricultural sectors have been singled out to shoulder the heavy burden of the removal of tariffs for other industries in the economy. While we understand this, we also know that today is the start, not the end, of a process and UK agriculture cannot continue to shoulder such imbalances in future negotiations.”
Important first step
NPA senior policy adviser Tom Haynes said: “While we still await the details of today’s agreement, it is an important first step in restarting trading relations with the US. The US market is worth £24 million on average and represents our fourth largest export destination for UK pork.
“The NPA supports international trade, which helps to meet the UK’s demand for pigmeat and compliments domestic production, helping to maximise pig carcase balance. However, it is vital that this is done in such a way that protects the UK’s high production standards and ensures there is an equivalence in all trade deals.
“While the NPA welcomes government assurances that “protections on food standards” have been maintained, we reiterate our position that the UK Government should establish a set of core production standards that would apply to both domestically produced and imported food in order to be sold in the UK.
“Implementing core standards will prevent UK farmers’ animal welfare and sustainability efforts from being undermined and ensure that the UK does not simply offshore food production to countries with less sustainable systems and lower animal welfare standards.
“Allowing goods into the UK produced to standards that would not be legal for our producers, would represent a betrayal to British farmers. The trade agreement reached with India earlier this week sets an important precedent for future trade agreements, recognising sensitive farming sectors like pork and the importance in upholding the UK’s high production standards.”
Unprecedented access
Tony Goodger, head of communications at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), said: “Today’s announcement, according to the Downing Street press release allows for unprecedented market access for British farmers with protections on food standards maintained and we urge everyone of our exporting members to take a close look at every opportunity be it for fresh or frozen cuts and British processed meat products.
“It is essential that all US beef, be it fresh or manufactured either in the US or the UK into processed products, is clearly labelled with the country of the beef’s origin in order that consumers can an informed choice at the point of purchase.
“We are keen to hear what ‘other agricultural products’ are included in the deal, specifically chicken and pork. No doubt the export team at AHDB now have an even bigger job on their plate and I have every confidence in them”.
Job not done
Country Land and Business Association director of external Affairs, Jonathan Roberts, said: “Starmer’s stuck to his word to protect Britain’s world-class standards. That’s good news – for British farmers and for American families who’ll now get the real thing: British beef, raised properly.
“But this isn’t job done. Future trade deals risk chipping away at the high standards we’ve fought for. Government must hold the line, and raise its sights. We need real ambition to get British wine, cheese and more onto shelves around the world.”
High standards
Jim Moseley, Red Tractor CEO, said: “The standards which farmers and manufacturers produce food to in the UK set us apart from the rest of the world. The UK Government must continue to defend UK food standards and farmers by ensuring any products entering the UK market do not undercut the high standards of British produce that consumers have come to expect.
“75% of UK adults trust the food they buy and eat in the UK, and the main reasons for that are the strong standards and clear labelling policies we have in the UK. We cannot risk slipping backwards to a place where customers are not confident in the food they’re buying – whether that is food safety, animal welfare or provenance.
“If shoppers want to be confident that their food is British and of a high standard, they should look for the Red Tractor.”