Just as predicted, the U.S.A. have begun the process of holding the U.K. over a barrel in trade talks, pushing for a massive drop in standards in U.K. farming by adopting American food standard regulations. They want to sell more in the U.K. Much more.
The U.S. Ambassador to Britain has given a speech condemning European farming practice as fit only for a museum, adding that stories about growth hormones fed to cattle, genetically modified wheat in bread and chlorine-washed chicken in the U.S. are nothing more than slander and scare-mongering. Well it has worked. I'm scared.
I am scared that British farmers will - on top of everything else - have to compete with inferior produce flooding into the country at prices they could not hope to match. Currently, France prefers British lamb to their own and pay high prices for the premium, even though they have the most powerful agricultural lobby in the world.
The whole point of the E.U. was to guard against an aggressive American market, and nobody is as aggressive as the U.S.A. when it comes to international deals.
I would imagine that the whole point of the Leave campaign was to retain and enhance British sovereignty. How the hell is that going to happen if we allow the U.S.A. to dictate trade agreements in their favour?
As long as everything is clearly marked 'Product of the USA'; don't buy it.
ReplyDeleteBut it won't be. All sorts of produce - like wheat in bread or chicken in pies - will be 'made in the U.K.' without having to mention where the ingredients came from. Nobody is going to proudly label their produce as originating from the U.S.A. Food is a commodity on the global market.
DeleteJust imagine how we feel here in the US - fights to have truth in labeling are useless because of powerful lobbying. Organic meats and produce are too costly for everyday people like me - so we eat more and more pesticides because of Monsanto et al, and wonder why every other person is suffering with cancer and other maladies. There seems to be no turning back.
ReplyDeletePrincipals have returned to British and European farming. The localities are proud of their produce and there are laws set up to protect the produce of areas famous for one particular product, in the same way you are not - in Europe - allowed to call a sparkling wine 'Champagne' unless it was made in the Champagne region.
DeleteIf Britain turns into a vast market for any other country all this will be lost, or at least turned into an expensive niche market. We will be treated like cattle. We all need food and as long as there are hungry people in the world, food should not be treated as a speculative commodity on a fluctuating market.
I totally agree with Ruth.
DeleteMoi aussi.
DeleteDon't the US always want to dictate our trade agreements and any other agreements? I thought that was par for the course and one reason why I personally didn't want to leave the EU -I would rather be a Ruropean than a satellite of the US
ReplyDeleteIt ought to be easier for Britain now that the WW2 debt has been finally paid off, but Mrs. May could take us back to square one.
DeleteSorry - obviously I mean European although on second thoughts Ruropean is rather a good term for farmers!
ReplyDeleteI can see that catching on.
DeleteAnd my answer is a continuation of Ruth's thoughts. I don't know how to make distinctions in the large supermarket, and haven't the patience or brain cells to do it. Therefore, I shop a small, local, one of a kind market whose owners source real food. It works for me because there is only one of me. Inner city, large family shoppers are screwed, literally. It makes one literally be in anguish for the inner city. I cannot see a resolution.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky enough to have small family greengrocers and butchers - and bakers - but they could not supply the whole of town without turning into supermarkets.
DeleteOh god
ReplyDeleteI do hope I haven't upset your fanbase.
DeleteMy six year-old grandson has sorted it out for himself and refuses to eat meat at all. We haven't the heart to detail the ingredients of everything else.
ReplyDeleteI may take a lesson from your grandson.
Delete