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US moves to lift ban on British lamb imports welcomed in the north-east


By David Porter

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The announcement came after the meeting of President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnston
The announcement came after the meeting of President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnston

Local MP David Duguid has welcomed an announcement that the United States will lift its decade long ban on British lamb imports, opening up large opportunities for farmers across the UK.

Speaking after meeting the US President, Joe Biden in Washington DC, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said British farmers would once again be able to export lamb to the US.

The United States is the second largest importer of lamb in the world and this announcement looks set to open a huge market of opportunity for British farmers, including sheep farmers in the north-east.

A day after President Joe Biden downplayed the prospect of a trade deal Mr Johnson said British farmers would once again be able to export lamb to the US.

He said: “I can tell you today that what we’re going to get from the United States now is a lifting of the decades old ban, totally unjustified, discriminating on British farmers and British lamb

“It’s about time too.

"And what we’re wanting to do is make solid incremental steps in trade.”

The Prime Minister welcomed the resolution of the Airbus-Boeing trade dispute earlier this year, the whisky tariffs lowered by the US as well as President Biden’s decision to lift the ban on British beef which will also provide a boost yo UK-US trade, already worth £200 billion a year.

The leaders agreed to continue working towards a future full Free Trade Agreement.

Commenting local MP David Duguid said: “This is fantastic news for lamb producers here in the north-east.

“The US Market for lamb imports is the second largest in the world and this brings a raft of new export opportunities for our farming industry."


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