Britain has halted negotiations on a potential free trade deal with Canada because of dissatisfaction by both sides over a lack of access to each other’s agricultural markets.
Reuters says the talks first launched in March 2022. Canadian negotiators say they’re disappointed that the UK put a pause on the negotiations, noting that Britain’s decision to keep barriers up for Canada’s agricultural market access is what’s stalling the negotiations. Canada’s farmers are complaining that they’ve been all but shut out of Britain’s beef market because of regulations banning the use of artificial hormones.
A UK spokesperson posted on Twitter (X) that they reserve the right to call a pause on negotiations with any country if we don’t think progress is getting made. Before Britain made its exit from the European Union trading sphere at the end of 2020, Canada rolled over existing trade arrangements to ensure that free trade could continue.
