The chlorinated chicken will not be part of any US trade deal according to the UK Environment Minister, Michael Gove. He stated on Wednesday that the UK will not accept chlorinated chicken imports as a condition of a trade deal with the US.
Chicken washed with chlorine is currently not permitted in the EU. However, people in the UK view the issue as an important one amid concerns of food safety. Many fear that, in pursuance of a US trade deal, food safety standards may be relaxed to meet American conditions for a deal.
Michael Gove, minister for the environment, food and rural affairs, made his position clear in a BBC radio interview. He was questioned about Britain’s position should it be asked to accept a deal involving US chlorinated chicken.
He said, “No – I’ve made it perfectly clear, and indeed this is something on which all members of the government are agreed, that we are not going to dilute our high animal welfare standards or our high environmental standards in pursuit of any trade deal.”
The UK is still a member of the EU and will remain so until at least March 2019, the earliest that Britain can leave the European Union. No member country is able to agree on trade deals with any third party country – which the US is. However, come March 219, the UK will be seeking a US trade deal as one of its main priorities. It will certainly want the groundwork to be advanced by that time.
As Trade secretary Liam Fox, pointed out earlier, the issue of chlorinated chicken is not a minor one. However, it is one that can be left meantime. It should not be permitted to overshadow the major benefits of a US trade deal. The UK can no longer rely on the EU to negotiate trade deals on Britain’s behalf. The country has to look after itself now. The issue of chlorinated chicken imports is just one of many that have to be discussed nearer the time.
President Trump praised the progress of talks with Britain on Tuesday. In doing so, he criticized the trade relationship of the EU with the US. He tweeted that the EU “is very protectionist” while the major trade deal with Britain was “big and exciting.” Time will tell, of course, but chlorinated chicken is on the back burner for now.
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