Brexit: Minister refuses to comment on chlorinated chicken plan - claiming Americans may be listening - politic-news.space

A cabinet minister has refused to reveal the details of the proposed deal that would allow chlorinated chicken into the UK – claiming the Americans might be listening.

A “dual tariff” plan has been put forward to Donald Trump’s administration that would permit US food that does not meet current British standards, provided they paid higher levies.

But, asked for the first time about the idea by a committee of MPs, trade secretary Liz Truss refused to discuss it – while twice ducking the opportunity to deny it.

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“I’m not going to go into detail in this committee on our negotiating strategy, because I suspect our counterparties from across the Atlantic might be taking account of my comments,” she claimed.

The comment was made despite it being widely accepted that the proposal has already been made to Washington, in detailed talks continuing this week.

Earlier this month, No 10 dropped pledge to maintain the ban both chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef, as talks towards a trade deal with Washington ramp up.

Ministers have been accused of risking the greatest risk to food safety since mad cow disease 20 years ago, which triggered “a food safety revolution” that protected British shoppers.

Put under pressure by the Commons international trade committee, Ms Truss came out fighting – insisting she was ready to walk away from the US talks, if her “red lines” were crossed.

When it was pointed out that Washington was insisting on the UK accepting its food products – despite criticism of its farming methods – she said that did not mean London was “going to accept them”.