UK-US Trade Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

UK-US Trade

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Excerpts
Monday 12th May 2025

(1 day, 18 hours ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Gustafsson Portrait Baroness Gustafsson (Lab)
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What we see in this relationship with the US is an opportunity to think about the opportunity it presents to all our British industries and how we can open that up to best effect. When we think about farming, the key area of the trade in beef is a real opportunity here. For the first time, the US ban on importing British beef has been lifted, and 13,000 tonnes of British beef can now be exported to the US. That is a real advantage for UK farming.

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Portrait Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
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My Lords, it is delightful to hear the Minister extolling the real opportunity that comes from a future deal with the United States. Last week I asked the Front Bench to confirm that none of this would be possible if we were still in the European Union. I was told that was a matter of opinion. Can the Minister confirm that this is a fact?

Baroness Gustafsson Portrait Baroness Gustafsson (Lab)
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I will offer up that I agree that that would be a matter of opinion.