Britain could be served up GM ‘Frankenfood’ in US trade deal

Genetically modified foods from America could end up on British supermarket shelves as part of a US trade deal.

Ministers yesterday left open lifting the ban on products made from GM crops as their red lines were unveiled for negotiations.

In a 184-page document setting out objectives, the Government categorically ruled out the NHS from trade talks.

It stated: ‘The NHS will not be on the table. The price the NHS pays for drugs will not be on the table.

‘The services the NHS provides will not be on the table. The NHS is not, and never will be, for sale to the private sector, whether overseas or domestic.’

However, the negotiating mandate on food standards was more ambiguous.

It said: ‘Any agreement will ensure high standards and protections for consumers and workers, and will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.’

Officials last night refused to rule out ditching the GM ban currently imposed by EU law.

Such a move could prove to be a key compromise to secure a deal with the US, where the majority of processed foods contain GM ingredients.

The document was revealed as negotiators yesterday arrived in Brussels to begin work on an EU trade deal.

The UK team of 100 officials led by David Frost started the first round of talks with a two-hour meeting with the EU’s broker Michel Barnier.

They did not shake hands due to coronavirus fears and wore lanyards bearing the Union Flag. 

A government spokesman said: ‘The UK will engage constructively to reach a Free Trade Agreement which fully respects the UK’s political and regulatory autonomy.’

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss yesterday insisted the UK is willing to walk away from talks with both the US and EU if the Government does not agree with what is offered.

She told Sky News: ‘We want a deal with the EU on Canada-style terms, if we have to trade with the EU on Australia-style terms, we will.

‘Likewise with the US we want to get a deal as soon as possible, but we’re certainly not going to sell out the NHS. That’s a very clear red line.

‘We’re not going to allow drugs to cost more on the NHS and we’re not going to sell out our food safety and animal welfare standards. We will walk away in both cases if it is not a deal that suits the UK because one of the key reasons people voted to leave the EU was to have control over their own rules.

‘We won’t be told what our rules and regulations are by the EU and the US.’

Ministers have already stated chlorinated chicken will not be imported from the US.

The Department for International Trade estimated a trade deal with the US could boost the UK economy by 0.16 per cent over the next 15 years.

Miss Truss will today declare ‘Britain is back’ as she addresses the World Trade Organisation in Geneva after the country last month took back its seat at the table following Brexit.

She will say: ‘The UK will, like every other sovereign country, assert its ability to set its own laws and regulations in line with our WTO commitments.’