The deal, which will see British beef farmers granted increased access to the US market moving forward, was struck on 9 May against the backdrop of the global trade disruption caused by president Donald Trump’s plans to impose higher tariffs on imports to the US.
Reed met with Rollins on 12 May to mark the trade deal and reiterate how it would help to “protect” British farmers.
“Today the Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and I celebrate the landmark economic deal secured between our great countries,” the Labour MP for Streatham and Croydon North said.
“The deal will protect Britain’s farmers and secure our food security. For the first time ever, UK beef farmers will have exclusive access to the world’s largest consumer market.
“We have always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers and uphold our high animal welfare and environmental standards. That is exactly what we have done.
“I look forward to building on our partnership and cooperation across agriculture and biosecurity in the decades to come.”
Rollins served in the Office of American Innovation and on the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term as president, and was sworn in as agriculture secretary in February.
The Food and Drinks Federation (FDF) and NFU praised the UK Government for securing the deal and maintaining food standards, but called for negotiations to continue in order to reduce the impact of tariffs on the wider food and drink sector in the UK.
Under the deal, imports of hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken will remain illegal and all imports will remain subject to existing sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
The UK also signed a trade deal with India this month which the government said will grant farmers and producers of lamb, salmon, whisky and gin with access to lower tariffs when exporting to India.
