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Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned not to 'sell out' British farming during Washington visit

The president of CLA, Victoria Vyvyan said letting in cheap food that was illegal to produce here was not trade, it was 'betrayal'

Rachael Brown
Chief Reporter
clock • 2 min read
Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned not to 'sell out' British farming during Washington visit

As the Chancellor Rachel Reeves arrives in Washington for trade talks, the CLA has warned her not to 'sell out' British farming in any deals or agreements.

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It comes as the farming industry issued previously told the Government that it cannot afford to 'sacrifice' British agriculture for the benefit of other sectors in a potential deal with US President Donald Trump.Ìý

Trade dealsÌý

The president of CLA, Victoria Vyvyan said letting in cheap food that was illegal to produce here was not trade, it was 'betrayal'.Ìý

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Ms Vyvyan said: "It undermines the very standards we ask our farmers to uphold, while piling pressure on businesses already struggling with rising costs and punitive taxes.

"Right now, British farmers grow 65% of the food that feeds the 70 million people in this country – an incredible triumph of hard work and high standards. They need support, not trade deals that put livelihoods on the table."

Food standardsÌý

Ms Vyvyan said if globalisation is dead, as Labour now claims, then British farming 'must live'.

"But that means a Government willing to back those that feed us, not sell them out."

Liberal Democrats

Speaking in PMQs today ( April 23), Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he had recently visited a beef farm in Oxfordshire where he met 'world class' beef farmers at work.Ìý

He said farmers want the Prime Minister to be careful in any trade deal with President Trump, adding they were 'let down' by the Conservative Party's 'appalling trade deals'.Ìý

He said farmers were worried a bad US deal, could see American agri-business 'under cut them with inferior meat'.Ìý

"Will the PM guarantee vote in this house, on any trade deal which he agrees with the United States," Mr Davey said.Ìý

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