Uk (Europe Brief News) – UK farmers fear being sacrificed in US trade talks to cut steel tariffs before July 9. NFU’s Tom Bradshaw warns against more concessions, like US meat imports, risking UK food standards.
As SKY News reported, UK farmers worry their industry is being used in trade talks with the US, especially to lower steel tariffs before the July 9, 2025, deadline. The NFU says farmers have given enough already, after making concessions earlier this year.
These included letting in US ethanol and allowing some hormone-free British beef into the US. While these deals helped the car and steel industries, they affect UK farmers by creating unfair competition and putting pressure on local bioethanol producers and cereal markets.
Will UK farmers pay the price in US trade talks before July 9?
As the UK seeks to avoid US steel tariffs, there are fears the government might allow more US poultry and pork into the UK. These products are often made using methods banned in the UK, like chlorine washing. This could affect British farmers and lower animal welfare and food safety standards.
Bradshaw warns that weakening these protections could harm food security, consumer trust, and British farms. He mentioned that with few options left, farming is a key sector that could be sacrificed to meet Trump’s demands, worrying farmers that they will again pay the price for a deal protecting other industries.
Tom Bradshaw, from the NFU, said farmers have already given too much. He mentioned that farmers made concessions to help reduce car tariffs, but now they are being asked to make more sacrifices. Farmers feel that these trade talks put industry first, affecting food producers. They fear that more concessions could damage UK farming, lower standards, and increase imports.
The government is under pressure about a possible wealth tax, which worries rural businesses and farmers already dealing with trade deal issues. The NFU wants the government to protect farmers and stop using them in trade talks.
