Sunak vows to put farmers 'failed by Truss' at the top of trade deals

Rishi Sunak made his promises in an open letter to British farmers. Credit: Chris J. Ratcliffe/PA Wire

Rishi Sunak vowed to defend farmers' interests when signing trade deals after his predecessor was accused of refusing them.

In an open letter to British farmers, the prime minister said that any deal he signs will have implications for the UK's domestic agricultural sector.

This comes after Liz Truss, in 2020, when she was Minister for International Trade, was accused of signing deals with Australia and New Zealand, although experts believed that they would reduce the British agricultural and food sectors.

In his letter, Mr Sunak also promised that the UK would never agree to import chlorine-washed chicken in any future deal.

He also said animal welfare would never be compromised and the UK will push other countries to ban sow stalls and battery cages.

In 2020, Liz Truss was accused of signing deals with Australia and New Zealand that hurt the UK's agriculture and food sectors. Credit: Finnbarr Webster/WPA Pool/Getty Images

A letter addressed to 'British farmers' was sent as the Prime Minister hosted a Farm to Fork Summit in Downing Street to promote food security.

< p>He wrote this as MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire, one of the most rural counties in the country: “I know how hard it has been for our farming communities, not least because of soaring costs and shifting to new schemes…

Mr Sunak laid out his six principles to “make sure British agriculture is at the center of British trade.”

The first of these: “Putting agriculture first. Our trade deals will always take into account all the implications and opportunities of these trade agreements for our domestic agricultural sector.”

The second, on the protection of sensitive sectors, stated: «We are ready to do everything possible to protect particularly sensitive sectors, including through free trade agreements and, where appropriate, through permanent quotas.»

Rishi Sunak said the UK will push other countries to ban batteries. Photo: Jamie McDonald/Getty Image

Mr Sunak pledged to prioritize new export opportunities and defend UK food standards.

“We will continue to protect food standards in the UK without exception, in line with all existing and future free trade agreements,” he said.

“There will be no chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef in the UK market. Not now and never.”

The Prime Minister vowed to continue international cooperation on animal welfare and promote high standards of animal welfare.

He continued: “Production methods such as pig stalls and battery cages are banned in the UK. In the new trade agreements, we will maintain our ability to maintain high standards of environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety.”

He also promised to remove other barriers, similar to lifting the long-standing US ban on British lamb.

“By supporting British agriculture in this way,” he said, “we can enable the whole world to feast on the best of the British, creating new jobs, growing our economy and providing the food security we need.”

Additional funds for the development of the British Agriculture

The Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there would be a new framework for trade negotiations.

They said the government was investing £2 million to expand its global trade shows and missions, and will also provide £1.6 million towards «Great» food. and beverages.

Five additional agricultural and beverage attachés will be appointed and tasked with removing restrictive market barriers.

The government also said it will expand funding to promote seafood exports around the world. around the world with an additional £1m between 2025 and 2028, and to create a new dedicated £1m program to help dairies seize export opportunities, especially in Asia Pacific.