Canada threatens to unleash Brexit bombshell on UK - Trudeau poised to block huge deal

CANADA has threatened to unleash a Brexit bombshell on Britain sending alarm bells ringing across the country.

The UK is currently bidding to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is worth an estimated £110bn, according to the Office of National Statistics, (ONS). However, Canada hold a veto vote on membership and could use it against Britain joining the alliance over an agricultural issue.

Canada has upped the pressure on the UK over its ban on hormone-treated beef as London tries to join Ottowa and the other 10 nations already enjoying the benefits of the CPTPP.

A report by Politico suggests that it has seen evidence that Canada has asked “some probing questions” of Britain over the issue.

The note seen by the publication said: “On hormone-treated beef, Canada asked some probing questions and stated this will be an important issue for Canada in judging the UK's compliance with CPTPP.

“However, Canada stopped short of describing the UK as non-compliant in this area.”

Britain has already shown resistance to other similar matters in the past.

During talks with the Donald Trump administration, the UK challenged the notion of chlorinated chickens being imported to the UK from the US.

The Labour Party has also raised concerns over the Canadian beef situation.

Shadow International Trade Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the fact the issue was discussed at all showed the Government was “Considering dropping animal welfare and food standards and allowing hormone-treated beef into UK markets.”

He added: “The Secretary of State recently stated that our standards are non-negotiable,

“The government should be standing up for UK interests in the accession process to CPTPP.”

However, another member, Japan, appears to suggest that Britain has no say in the rules already set by the bloc.

Writing in Politico, Emilio Casalicchio said: “Japan, which chaired the CPTPP commission in 2021, has said London must accept the existing rules of the trade bloc rather than attempt to set its own standards.

“It means a showdown could loom over whether the hormone beef ban is compliant with CPTPP rules.”

A government spokesperson said: “We have always been clear maintaining our high standards is a red line in all our trade negotiations.

“The UK will not be forced to lower our food, animal welfare or environmental standards when acceding to CPTPP, and there is absolutely nothing in the agreement which will require us to do so.”

Source: Express UK