US ag secretary seeks ‘additional access’ to UK for exporters

US agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins says the trade deal struck between the UK and US creates a massive opportunity for her country’s cattle ranchers, while ensuring that British consumers will have access to a product that “is the envy of the world”.

Ms Rollins held meetings in London with Defra officials on Monday (12 May) to start thrashing out the finer details of the deal reached between US president Donald Trump and UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

See also: Good for beef, less so for arable – UK-US trade deal verdict

That deal includes a two-way tariff-free quota for 13,000t of beef – significantly more than both countries currently export to each other – and duty-free access for US bioethanol.

Defra has confirmed that this must exclude any hormone-treated beef, as “any agricultural imports coming into the UK will have to meet our high food standards”.

Ahead of that meeting, Ms Rollins said the trade deal “creates the opportunity for our cattle ranchers to export millions more, which will end up in the pockets of American ranchers”.

“While our team finalises the trade deal, we are working hard to eliminate UK tariffs from all agricultural products,” she added.

“The deal secures a decrease from 19% to 0% in the UK’s ethanol tariff, offering an opportunity for corn farmers in states such as Iowa and Nebraska to further expand this important, second-largest market for US ethanol.”

British farmers

Defra secretary Steve Reed was also upbeat about what British farmers might gain from the trade deal.

“The deal will protect Britain’s farmers and secure our food security,” he said.

“For the first time ever, UK beef farmers will have exclusive access to the world’s largest consumer market.

“I look forward to building on our partnership and co-operation across agriculture and biosecurity in the decades to come.”

According to the AHDB, the deal does create significant upside for beef exporters.

Last year the UK shipped just shy of 2,000t to the US – mostly low value offal – as it struggled to compete with Brazil and Australia for a share of the 65,000t tariff-free quota to the US.

Above that, 15%-20% tariffs apply.

Beef exporters

According to AHDB head of economics David Swales, having 13,000t ring-fenced for UK beef exporters should create an opportunity for hormone-free, grass-fed beef for the high-end restaurant trade.

However, the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) is more concerned about the threat posed by the 13,000t of US beef that could be coming to the UK once the deal is ratified.

“With a growing shortage of livestock in the UK, we are becoming more reliant on importing beef and other products to feed this country’s needs, which poses a food security issue,” said BMPA chief executive Nick Allen.

“It’s certain that US exporters will concentrate on the high value, premium end of the market by sending cuts like strip loins to the UK.”

Combined with Australian tariff-free imports, this could represent “crippling competition” for British farmers.