Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Agricultural Exports to the United States

Thursday 28 October 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Recent discussions with the US led to the suspension of the 25% tariff on Scotch whisky.
  • British beef is now being exported to the United States for the first time in two decades.
  • The Prime Minister had positive discussions with President Biden on exporting lamb to the US.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Flynn SNP Aberdeen South
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Discussions regarding UK agricultural exports to the US, specifically focusing on Scotch whisky, British beef, and now lamb. The background includes previous disputes and recent positive developments.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with the (a) Prime Minister and (b) US Administration on agricultural exports to the United States?

Answer from George Eustice

Recent discussions with the US have led to several positive outcomes for the UK. We have resolved the Airbus-Boeing dispute, leading to the suspension of the 25% tariff on Scotch whisky; for the first time in two decades, British beef is on US plates; and most recently, my officials spoke to their US counterparts, who confirmed their intention to enable the import of British lamb following the Prime Minister's discussions on that with President Biden.

Answered
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Q2 Stephen Flynn SNP Aberdeen South
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Prime Minister declared that Scottish and UK businesses would be able to export their lamb to the United States after discussions with President Biden. However, leaked memos from the US Department suggest uncertainty about this declaration.

Question

That is an incredibly important point. Of course, when the Prime Minister left the White House, he declared to Scottish and UK businesses that they would indeed once again be able to export their lamb to the United States of America, but we have seen from leaked memos from the Secretary of State's own Department that that was not necessarily the case. Perhaps he can shine a little more detail on that. When will Scottish producers be able to export their lamb to the United States?

Answer from George Eustice

I cannot put a timescale on precisely when that will happen, but as I said, the Prime Minister had very positive discussions on this very issue with President Biden, and my officials have been continuing that discussion with US officials, who have confirmed their intention to enable the import of British lamb to the United States.

Partly answered

Not addressed: timescale

How: I Cannot Put A Timescale On Precisely When That Will Happen

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