To be terrified that this is the future for the UK? (Sorry, yes it's a Brexit one)

[Rainbunny]

The US Commerce Secretary just made a speech in which he demands that the UK scrap EU food standards on GM crops and animal farming standards after Brexit. Even more sinister were his words indicating that the USA expects to have influence in whatever Brexit deal the UK makes... "He said that it was critical that US interests must be taken into account when finalising an exit deal with the EU..!"

This is exactly what I've been afraid of and it looks to be coming true and the UK as a lone country will not be able to refuse whatever trade deal the USA demands. I get that people who voted leave are still happy they did but is this what they want to have happen?

www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/us-brexit-eu-uk-trade-deal-wilbur-ross-commerce-secretary-imports-exports-european-union-a8040571.html

[HateIsNotGood]

It looks more like a message to the EU to not make trade deals between the UK and the US a Brexit negotiation point.

With regards to agri-standards, UK practice has far higher and ethical standards than most of the EU (who just do it their way anyway) and the USA. Indeed that is a selling point of ours, so why would we need to lower our standards?

[makeourfuture]

They are salivating for the NHS.

[ManateeEquineOHara]

The UK doesn't have higher standards in agriculture Hatels. Although my experience is on one sector (laying hens) and yes we have a reasonable % organic, the UK have been seriously dragging their heels over dealing with a ban on beak trimming (which it will probably now never implement) while Germany have implemented this and NL are bringing it in.

Additionally the UK govt has been keep to use neonics to hell with the harm they cause.

[BowlingShoes]

Article in the FT about why the UK will be squeezed between the EU and the US over trade regulations because we lack bargaining power alone. www.ft.com/content/f315f260-c3ab-11e7-b2bb-322b2cb39656

[Motheroffourdragons]

We will have to lower our standards/regulations if we want to deal with US food. We have to have for example clear labelling on the provenance and the percentage of GM materials, but that is not needed in the US.
We will be desperate to do a deal with the US and I think they also hope that by selling to us, they can sell into the EU as well, hence their interest in a brexit deal between UK and EU.

This was one of the problems with the Canadina deal with the EU - a fear of getting GM foods into the food chain in Europe bypassing the regulations that exist here.

I have said this till I'm blue in the face, we had this information at the time of the vote and we chose to ignore it, as a nation.

There really is no helping us!

[expotition]

Hate, you're confusing the standards of UK production with the standards of what we allow to be sold in the UK. It's true that the US would be unlikely to mandate we lower our production standards - although in practice we probably would where we could, to compete with lower-cost producers. But what the US feels strongly about is lowering the standards of what we sell in the UK, so that their suppliers can export to the UK without the additional costs they currently face in exporting to the EU.

For example, EU standards mandate a slower speed of production line in abbatoirs than the US does - so while US abbatoir workers look forward to EU production days because they're less likely to have body parts chopped off, the companies that own them are paying more money to produce EU meat than meat for the domestic market.

[pallasathena]

Hysterical 'sky falling in', scenarios are just that. Hysterical. We started life as an independent trading nation and we'll re-embrace that status once Brexit is signed, sealed and delivered.
You can't turn the clocks back and the wringing of hands and the gnashing of teeth won't make a blind bit of difference.
It is what it is. Deal with it.

[Thesqueezermustghost]

"It is what it is'. Ridiculous and meaningless statement. It clearly is not what it is because noone has a clue what the hell it is, least of all those so-called negotiators. sheeeezsh.

[Somerville]

YANBU.
Cheap, chlorinated chicken is just the start. They want in on our NHS billions. Jeremy Hunt is paving the way beautifully. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-hunt-health-department-nhs-legal-action-americanise-privatisation-customers-id-pay-a8033986.html

Here's hoping that this thread won't be invaded by paid shills who will write a lot of words that make very little sense, and derail the discussion. But that's what generally happens.

[makeourfuture]

It is what it is. Deal with it.

Perhaps. But we will keep trying to stop it.

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

We started life as an independent trading nation and we'll re-embrace that status

You can't turn the clocks back

Isnt that a direct contradiction

[Motheroffourdragons]

Isn't that when our biggest trade was in slavery? Yep, great idea!

[Beelzbubble]

Gosh if only arrogant Blair, Brown and Cameron had stopped accusing poor working class people of being bigots and listened to their concerns instead of sitting in their multi-millionaire ivory towers lecturing them on how they should think, perhaps Brexit needn't of happened. Blair, Brown and Cameron's career aspirations and wealth were more important than serving their country.

[manicinsomniac]

YANBU (though I think, to be honest, food standards are perhaps not going to be that high on our list of worries in a no deal situation).

Considering I live in the country, I know almost nothing about farming etc but is there any possibility that our own agricultural industry to expand sufficiently to produce most of our own meat, dairy and produce??

I do know that the little South African shop local to me is really hoping that the UK won't readopt the new EU legislation banning the import of products with milk (or milk powder, not sure?) from outside the EU as it is really affecting their business. There may be a few other small silver linings like that.

[makeourfuture]

Isn't that when our biggest trade was in slavery? Yep, great idea!

Then the sugar from the work of the slaves. It was a filthy business.

[Peregrina]

We started life as an independent trading nation and we'll re-embrace that status once Brexit is signed, sealed and delivered.

So we will turn the clocks back a few centuries and go out and forge an Empire? As you so correctly say:

You can't turn the clocks back and the wringing of hands and the gnashing of teeth won't make a blind bit of difference.
It is what it is. Deal with it.

So I suggest that you too decide to deal with it - a small country off the coast of W Europe, without the backing of the resources of Empire to bail it out.

As for less 'Red Tape' - I have noticed that the enthusiasts for making a bonfire of regulations have been a bit quieter since the Grenfell tower disaster.

[CisCucumber]

The NHS must be the last thing we have to sell
It's the only thing the Tories can think to do. Sell off any national assets

[Oddmanout]

I voted leave and I'm still happy.

"...who knows what we’ll have to concede to make a deal. Worrying times."

That's how you make a deal, you give and take.

There was a lot more to Brexit than a US trade deal.

[Peregrina]

there any possibility that our own agricultural industry to expand sufficiently to produce most of our own meat, dairy and produce??

It's difficult to see how, given that we haven't been self sufficient in food since sometime in the mid 19th Century and we now have a much larger population. This caused us significant problems during the war, hence rationing being introduced.

[Motheroffourdragons]

There was a lot more to Brexit than a US trade deal.

I am still waiting for sensible reasoned answers to exactly what though.

[Oddmanout]

These arguments have been done to death and I CBA to re-hash it. Remoaners need to get over it - you can bet your house that there'd be no talk of second referendums if you'd won.

[Oddmanout]

"...now have a much larger population"

Thanks to the EU yes. Unfettered immigration into a tiny little island - great idea.

Before the usual 'racist' insult gets thrown I'm not racist in the slightest live and let live, but that doesn't change the fact that we have limited space without destroying our beautiful countryside.