Food will not be a deal breaker in post-Brexit trade, says US

Food issues will not be a “deal breaker” in a post-Brexit trade agreement between Britain and America, the US agriculture secretary has said.

Sonny Perdue said the two counties needed to determine an agreement rooted in food science, not “the political science of fear”.

In the Brexit referendum campaign, some Remain supporters repeatedly raised the concern that leaving the EU would lead to a drop in food standards and could see US chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef arriving on the British market.

“We are looking to come together.

“Really like-minded people understanding that both of our economies benefit.

“All we are asking from the United States is that we make sound food decisions for the future based on sound science that we can all agree upon rather than the political science of fear.

He added: “We are not asking Europe to lower standards.”