Friday 01 March 2019 1:51 pm | Updated: Monday 03 June 2019 1:32 am

US lays out demands for free trade deal with UK, raising concerns over food regulations

The United States has taken a hard line on post-Brexit trade talks with the UK, demanding greater access to British markets where products such as chlorinated chicken are currently banned by the EU.

In its negotiating objectives for a future free trade deal, the US Trade Representative’s office (USTR) said it would try to reduce regulatory differences between the countries and cut barriers stopping US industrial and agricultural goods entering the UK market.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed poor trade deals have cost jobs in the US, and last year his administration agreed to a rejigged trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

The US will aim to “reduce burdens associated with unnecessary differences in regulation,” USTR said in the document.

Environment secretary Michael Gove has said the UK would refuse to compromise on food standards in any deal, and has raised worries about antibiotics used in livestock.

Now that the US has stated what it is aiming for, the USTR, led by Robert Lighthizer, could wish to formally start negotiations in as few as 30 days.

But with the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU on 29 March still causing widespread political turmoil in Westminster, it is unclear whether this would be possible.

The USTR also said it would try to boost services opportunities by improving transparency and predictability in regulations.

The US goods and services trade with the UK came to an estimated $231.9bn (£174.8bn) in 2017.