The British beef and pork sectors are urging the government to establish fundamental principles regarding food standards in future trade agreements, following a breakthrough in negotiations with the United States. Despite seeing potential in the new agreement, industry organisations are warning of threats to British producers.
On 8 May 2025, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the signing of a US-UK trade deal, as reported by the White House. The agreement creates significant export opportunities, with the White House fact sheet indicating it will generate $5 billion in new export opportunities for American farmers, particularly in beef and ethanol sectors. According to the National Pig Association (NPA), the American market represents the fourth most important destination for British pork exports.
Tony Goodger from the NPA is encouraging exporters to conduct detailed analyses of opportunities regarding various meat cuts and processed products. The association also emphasises the necessity of clearly marking the country of origin for both fresh and processed meat to ensure complete transparency for consumers.
Neil Shand, Chief Executive of the National Beef Association (NBA), has recognised the agreement as an opportunity for British beef producers. He pointed out that the arrangement is reciprocal, meaning British beef can be exported to the US. Simultaneously, he indicated the necessity of ensuring full traceability of products and protecting sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS).
The agreement includes several key provisions that will impact the British meat industry. It eliminates the 20% tariff on American beef exported to Britain within a 1,000-tonne quota. Additionally, it establishes a preferential duty-free quota of 13,000 tonnes for US beef, with an identical privilege for British beef exported to the US. The deal also includes a quota of 1.4 billion litres of ethanol from the US subject to a preferential tariff rate.
Although the NPA has welcomed government declarations regarding the protection of food standards, they note that specific regulations are needed. The organisation is demanding the establishment of uniform production requirements applying to both food produced in Britain and imported products. According to the NPA, the absence of such rules risks “betraying” British farmers by allowing the import of food produced in ways not permitted in the UK. They also warn against shifting production to countries with lower welfare and sustainability standards.
The agreement with India is cited as an example of good practice, as it takes into account sensitive sectors such as pork and protects high production standards.
Kent Bacus, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association executive director of government affairs in the US, expressed enthusiasm about what this deal would mean for American beef producers. The NCBA has been lobbying British officials for years to change long-standing UK trade barriers, emphasising the safety of US beef products and highlighting similarities in cattle raising practices between the two nations.
While providing welcome relief to the UK car and steel industries, the agreement does not address the wider issue of the broad 10% tariff on almost all US imports from the UK. Before President Trump’s wave of tariffs in March and April 2025, the US generally had very low tariffs on imports, averaging 2.2%. The majority of UK businesses still face significantly higher tariffs when exporting to the US than they did two months ago.
Both countries have committed to mutual recognition of their sanitary and phytosanitary standards when exporting goods. Prime Minister Starmer has emphasised that the deal will boost trade between the countries and not only protect jobs but create them by opening market access. However, when questioned about remaining tariffs, Starmer responded by suggesting the focus should be on whether the situation is better than it was previously.
