Keir Starmer warned trade deal with Trump risks fresh outrage from UK farmers amid tax row
Next US president embraced the idea of post-Brexit agreement with the UK when he was last in office, but PM told it risks fuelling fury over inheritance tax raid in the Budget
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Keir Starmer has been warned a trade deal with Donald Trump risks selling out farmers already infuriated by his ‘tractor tax’.
When he was last in office the new president enthusiastically embraced the idea of a post-Brexit free trade deal with the UK, but US sources have always made clear it would have to include agriculture - a key sticking point given controversial US farming methods including washing chicken in chlorine.
Former Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls said that to clinch the deal, Sir Keir would have to be willing to say to British farmers “you’re gonna have to pay a price” at a time when they are already furious with the government.
On Wednesday Rachel Reeves rejected an alternative proposal to her inheritance tax raid on family farms, which farmers have dubbed “cruel” and warned will spell the end of their industry.
Mr Balls said free trade deal negotiations "comes down to: are we willing to make concessions in the areas where the US will absolutely want us to do so for a meaningful trade deal? ... Two fundamental things you have to be willing to concede on: One is on agriculture, on American beef, on hormone-injected beef.
“You have to be willing to say to British farmers: ‘We’re really sorry, but in order to deliver lower American beef imports, you’re gonna have to pay a price.’”
He added: “I would be very surprised indeed if, especially with the row the government’s currently in with farmers in the NFU (National Farmers Union), that you’re going to see a British government wanting to get into that space.”
The second issue would be healthcare, he said. He predicted the Labour government would have to be willing to say that US healthcare giants can have much greater access to the UK healthcare market and “be able to provide services which NHS providers provide”.
Last year the then prime minister Rishi Sunak vowed that chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef would never be part of future trade deals.
Both practices are associated with factory farms in the US.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments