Monday, October 29, 2018

Secret Trump Trade Deal?: Jacob Rees-Mogg Calls Protestors Dressed as Chickens 'Bird Brained'


A group gathered outside British MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's office in Saltford, England to campaign against his forming a post-Brexit trade deal with the US, which could result in the UK importing US chicken and beef, which are banned under current EU rules.

They claimed that the Conservative MP was supporting a "secret trade deal with Trump" which they believe would put Somerset farmers out of business by "flooding the UK with dodgy US foods".


The protestors were from Global Justice Bristol, an offshoot of the campaign group Global Justice Now, which describes itself as a "democratic social justice organisation".

"Jacob Rees-Mogg wants a Trump trade deal that will flood the UK with US chlorinated chicken, hormone-injected beef and other foods banned here because they are produced with appallingly low animal welfare and health standards. This will drive many Somerset farmers out of business," said Global Justice Bristol member, Zarria Phillips.

She added: "Even if our farmers lowered their animal welfare and food standards too, many still couldn’t compete with huge US farms, and would then also lose access to EU markets which require better standards."

Rees-Mogg called the chicken-suited protestors "bird brained."

 (via UKradio)

-RW 







3 comments:

  1. ""Jacob Rees-Mogg wants a Trump trade deal that will flood the UK with US chlorinated chicken, hormone-injected beef and other foods banned here because they are produced with appallingly low animal welfare and health standards. This will drive many Somerset farmers out of business," said Global Justice Bristol member, Zarria Phillips."

    First, what the hell is "Global Justice member"?! You really can't make this stuff up.

    Second, an honest (non-crony) assessment would conclude that if the US standards are below what UK consumers want, and if lower prices aren't a sufficient enticement for the perceived higher risk, then presumably UK consumers won't purchase this meat. Problem solved.

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    1. But there are probably no labeling standards to inform customers one way or the other. Other than in select areas where this has been fought successfully in the USA the dodgy practices may be government mandated or those practicing better methods or methods some customers may prefer may be prohibited from labeling their products as such.

      As to dodgy US beef, didn't mad-cow disease start in the UK because of their practices?

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    2. If customers are worried about consuming without adequate labeling, they can choose not to purchase. In the free market, some suppliers would probably decide to experiment with clear labeling as a means to earn consumers' trust (in fact, companies do more than required now, for this purpose).

      Yes, mad-cow disease was a UK phenomenon.

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