The poultry sector remains notably absent from the latest trade framework between the United Kingdom and the United States, highlighting ongoing tensions over food safety standards and market access. While beef quotas were expanded under the new deal, poultry was left out entirely, with no immediate path forward for resolving longstanding technical barriers.
This omission reflects the UK’s continued commitment to its current food production standards, particularly in areas where US practices differ significantly—such as the use of chemical washes on poultry carcasses, a method widely rejected by both UK regulators and consumers. These differences have long posed challenges for American poultry producers seeking access to the British market.
Although US beef gained improved duty-free access through a new quota system, the poultry sector saw no similar progress. U.S. poultry and pork exports continue to face hurdles related to plant certifications, residue testing protocols, and other regulatory requirements that have yet to be addressed.
Despite calls from American industry groups to include chicken in future trade agreements, the UK’s firm stance on food safety suggests that significant change is unlikely in the near term. The exclusion of poultry from this agreement underscores the UK’s resolve to uphold its domestic production values, even as broader agricultural negotiations continue.
