Brexit: Farmers fear government might slash tariffs on food imports from US

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Farmers have voiced concern over reports that the government is planning to slash tariffs on food imports from the US as part of a planned trade deal. According to the Financial Times, the international trade secretary Liz Truss is preparing a “big concession package” offer to Donald Trump’s administration as part of negotiations with Washington which began recently. “Anything else would represent a clear breach of the government’s own explicit red lines in trade negotiations.” And Labour's shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said: "A UK-US trade deal designed to benefit the big American agricultural corporations may help Donald Trump’s chances of re-election, but it can only be delivered at the expense of food standards here in Britain and the competitiveness of our domestic farming sector. Why don’t you reduce the amount of antibiotics you’re using and then you can actually produce better chicken not only for America, it can also come into this country.” A spokesperson for the Department for International Trade said: “We have been clear that any future deal with the US must work for our consumers, farmers and companies.