The UK has long-ruled out allowing imports of chlorine-washed chicken from the US, with Rachel Reeves in November reiterating her opposition

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/26864906

Britain must allow US chlorine-washed chicken into UK markets if it wants relief from sweeping tariffs, Donald Trump has indicated.

It comes after the UK failed to avoid tariffs imposed on the global economy, with the US president slapping a 10 per cent levies on all British exports to the United States.

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In a statement published alongside the tariff announcement, the White House said: “The UK maintains non-science-based standards that severely restrict US exports of safe, high-quality beef and poultry products.”

It suggested that Britain’s ban on chlorinated chicken was among a range of “non-tariff barriers” that limit the US’s ability to trade.

The UK has long ruled out allowing imports of chlorine-washed chicken from the US due to health concerns, with Downing Street on Thursday reiterating its manifesto commitment to high food standards.

Asked whether the UK could allow imports of chlorine washed chicken in order to appease the US, the prime minister’s officials spokesperson said: “Our position on that is unchanged. You’ve got the manifesto commitment on food standards, which obviously remains.”

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The last major polling done on the issue, conducted in 2020, revealed that 80 per cent of Britons are opposed to allowing imports to the UK, and the same proportion is also against allowing chicken products that have been farmed using hormones.

There is also growing pressure from the farming industry to rule out concessions on the issue, amid fears it could undercut British farmers and drive down food standards.

Nigel Farage admitted he would allow American chlorine-washed chicken to be sold in the UK as part of a free trade deal with the US.

  • CileTheSane@lemmy.caEnglish
    591·
    24 days ago

    The UK maintains non-science-based standards

    Maybe look at who is in charge of your health department before your start complaining about “non-science-based standards”

    • Queen HawlSera@lemm.eeEnglish
      101·
      24 days ago

      They only say “Science-Based” as a dogwhistle to mean “Ignoring what science says about transpeople and substituting my own evidence based on ignorance and vibes.”

    • Lumbardo@reddthat.comEnglish
      310·
      24 days ago

      The “head” of any department is often not a scientist. Scientists conduct technical work, they don’t manage departments or orgs.

      • bollybing@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        11·
        24 days ago

        Right, but in order to be “science based” you do have to be led by someone who actually believes in and follows scientific consensus.

        Not someone who doesn’t believe viruses are the cause of disease, wants to revisit the fraudulent claim that vaccines cause autism, doesn’t understand that people will die if you stop pasteurising milk etc.