Rachel Reeves has firmly stated that the 海角视频 will not be "relaxing" its food standards in an effort to secure a trade agreement with the US.
The Chancellor, currently in Washington DC for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings, made these comments ahead of her anticipated discussions with US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, as reported by .
When questioned on whether the 海角视频 government would have to decide between accepting US food standards or aligning more closely with the EU, Reeves told the BBC: "We've been really clear since the beginning of our discussions with our US counterparts, that we're not going to be reducing agricultural standards in the 海角视频, and the US administration respect and understand that."
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"We have high standards to support British farming and support British consumers, and we're not going to be relaxing those standards."
Reeves also acknowledged that the "world has changed" and emphasised that the 海角视频 was "looking for a deal in our country's national interest to better protect and promote jobs and investment into the 海角视频."
When asked if she was referring to US President Donald Trump's sweeping new global trade tariffs, Reeves said: "I believe in free trade. I think that is good for countries around the world, but it's also got to be fair trade."
"I do understand the concerns that the United States has about countries around the world that run large and persistent trade surpluses with the US."
"The 海角视频 is not one of those countries, which is why I do believe that there is a deal there to be done between the 海角视频 and the US, to promote trade, to reduce trade barriers, to better support jobs and investment, both in the 海角视频 and in the US."
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She emphasised that the government has "announced a review on low value imports coming into the 海角视频, undercutting the British high street and British retailers."
When questioned if the 海角视频 was being "treated more harshly by President Trump than almost anybody else, apart from China", the Chancellor responded: "I wouldn't recognize the way you've portrayed that. The headline tariff on the 海角视频 after the 90 days pause is, of course, lower than many countries around the world."
"But am I happy with that outcome? Of course not, which is why we are in extensive discussions at the moment with the US about securing an economic agreement, an agreement to reduce those tariff and non-tariff barriers between our countries.
"But also to build on the successful defence and national security partnership between our countries and turn that into a new technology partnership to support some of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and to build on the scientific enterprise that we see both in the 海角视频 and US, where I think there is scope for really enhancing and building on those relationships, to get those jobs, and bring that investment to Britain."