Liam Fox has tried to allay concerns about a reduction in food standards after Brexit by revealing detailed discussions on a trade agreement with the US are yet to begin.

The International Trade Secretary dismissed as "scaremongering" fears that Britain could be forced to accept the sale of food including chlorinated chicken or modified wheat.

He told Sky News: "There are no preconditions about any potential agreement with the US.

"We haven't even begun to discuss in detail what any trade agreement might look like.

Liam Fox: No detailed discussion on US post-Brexit trade deal yet pic.twitter.com/kwb7ZnZwHL — Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) May 1, 2018

"Whether we would actually go with a full Free Trade Agreement or whether we might look at something new and innovative.


"So any of these arguments I'm afraid are just scaremongering at this point."

Chuka Umunna responded by claiming Dr Fox could "no longer hide the reality" of Brexit.

Image: Mr Umunna said Dr Fox could 'no longer hide the reality' of Brexit

The Labour MP and People's Vote campaign supporter said: "Any trade deal with the US will in fact take years to negotiate, and the talks are yet to even begin.

"And we now know that reaching a deal would involve huge trade-offs, such as agreeing to accept imports of chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-injected beef, and potentially agreeing to open up the NHS to US pharmaceutical companies."

Dr Fox also responded to a demand from India's High Commissioner to the UK that any free trade agreement must include "freer movement of people" between the two countries.

The North Somerset MP said: "Every country in every trade negotiation ever will set out at the beginning its own demands because it is a negotiation.

Image: Campaigners say chlorinated chicken could be part of a UK-US deal

"Very often, movement especially of professionals where companies have invested already and want to have staff manage them is one of the asks that we have."

Asked if that would mean more visas granted, despite some Leave campaigners promising immigration would be reduced after Brexit, Dr Fox said: "Nothing is ever off the table in a negotiation.

"That's why we have negotiations - and if you close down options before you begin them, you're not going to get very far."