UK-US Trade Deal and animal welfare and farming

Early day motion 98, tabled 18 May 2026 by Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 32 members.

That this House notes with concern the announcement on 8 May 2025 of the UK-US Trade Deal which significantly expands tariff-free access for US beef exports from 1,000 to 13,000 tonnes annually; further notes that while the Government has stated that sanitary and phytosanitary standards must be maintained, the deal does not address the lower animal welfare standards under which US beef is often produced; is concerned that the widespread use of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in the US, involving intensive confinement, routine use of antibiotics, and limited environmental oversight, creates an unfair economic advantage over UK producers who operate under higher animal welfare, environmental, and food safety standards; and calls on the Government to ensure all future trade agreements do not undermine the animal or environmental standards of UK farmers to ensure fairness and food security.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 28, DUP 1, Green 1, Labour 1, Scottish National Party 1.