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Britain has suspended trade talks with Canada after negotiations broke down over disagreements over beef and cheese.
The two countries have been negotiating for the past two years after Britain left the European Union, with trade continuing under the same agreement originally brokered when Britain was an EU member.
A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We have always said we will only negotiate trade deals that benefit the British people.
“And if progress is not made, we reserve the right to suspend negotiations with any country.
“We remain open to resuming negotiations with Canada in the future to build a stronger trade relationship that benefits businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Previous agreements allowed Britain to continue selling cars and cheese in North American countries without Canada imposing import taxes.
But the Canadian government faces pressure from the beef industry and domestic cheese makers.
Britain traded with Canada on terms that largely mirrored the arrangements under which Britain was a member of the European Union.
Negotiations for a new agreement began in March 2022.
A British government official said Canada “appears to have lost sight of the bigger picture: British-Canadian businesses and the people they employ, with trade worth 26 billion pounds a year.”
The official added: “If Canada returns to the table with a serious proposal and wants to make progress, we will listen, but in the meantime we are committed to other trade deals that benefit British businesses.'' “I'm going to focus on that,” he added.
Mary Ng, a spokeswoman for Canada's trade minister, told the BBC she was “disappointed” by the cancellation of negotiations and said the same had been said by Kemi Badenoch, the secretary of state for commerce and trade.
Ng's spokesperson added: “Their decision to continue to maintain market access barriers to our agricultural industry and reluctance to reach mutual agreements will only stall negotiations.” added.
I just hope they look back on the overnight briefing.As I've said, I always believe this Congress should hear it first.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Ng added on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Canadian government “will never agree to a deal that is not good for our workers, farmers and businesses.”
Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, praised the government for “staying its course and not giving way.”
She told BBC Radio 4's Today program that it was vital that hormone-treated beef was not allowed into the country.
“It's a relief for farmers. This has been in place for a long time and is aimed at strengthening the trading relationship between the UK and Canada.
“Trade in agricultural products is always the first thing to be discussed and the last thing to be agreed upon. I am glad that the government did not give way and stuck to its course,” she said.
Ms Batters added: “Canada has been playing hardball for a long time. The brink of who would surrender was always on the line.”
Lord Lindsay Hoyle, leader of the House of Commons, said ministers should have made a statement to MPs about the suspension of trade talks.
He told the House of Commons: I just hope they look back on the overnight briefing. As I say, I always believe this Congress should hear it first. ”
