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The issue of chlorine-washed chicken, which is produced in the
United States but not allowed in the European Union, is
high-profile in Britain where many fear that a U.S. trade deal
could lead to imports of food with lower safety standards.
With talks to leave the EU at a very early stage, it is a also a
rare example of a tangible product that could be affected by
Brexit being discussed by top ministers, who have given
dissonant signals about the issue.
Michael Gove, the minister for the environment, food and rural
affairs, was asked in a BBC radio interview whether U.S.
chlorinated chicken would be allowed in Britain as part of a
future U.S. trade deal after Britain leaves the EU.
"No," he said. "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."
Speaking later on Wednesday, finance minister Philip Hammond
said Britain would not relax food safety or animal welfare
standards. But decisions on specific products would need to wait
until actual trade talks, he added.
As a European Union member, Britain is not free to agree trade
deals with any third parties, but a deal with the United States
will be a top priority after Britain leaves the EU in March
2019.
Trade Secretary Liam Fox has been criticized in recent days for
dismissing the issue of chlorinated chicken as "a detail at the
very end-stage of one sector of a potential free trade
agreement" with the United States.
In his interview, Gove sought to defend Fox's comments.
"The trade secretary quite rightly pointed out that of course
this issue is important but we mustn't concentrate just on this
one issue when we look at the huge potential that a trade deal
can bring," he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised ongoing work on a
post-Brexit trade deal with Britain and criticized the EU's
trade relationship with the United States.
"Working on major Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. Could be
very big & exciting. JOBS! The E.U. is very protectionist with
the U.S. STOP!" Trump wrote on Twitter.
(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon and David Milliken; editing by Guy
Faulconbridge
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