logo
Cheesemaker warns PM to 'be careful' on trade deal

Cheesemaker warns PM to 'be careful' on trade deal

Yahoo11-04-2025
One of Britain's largest cheesemakers has warned the government not to "rush into a trade deal" with the US.
Giles Barber's family has been operating in Ditcheat, Somerset, since 1833 and has become the UK's largest exported of cheese to the United States.
Despite his cheddar facing the new 10% tariff on all imports from the UK into America, Mr Barber warned the prime minister not to sign a free trade deal too fast.
"Be careful, Sir Keir," he said. "I would rather see time and care taken over the terms of that deal, than to rush into it." The Prime Minister has said he will only sign a deal "if it's in the national interest".
More news stories for Somerset
Listen to the latest news for Somerset
Barber's Cheddar Cheese employs 400 people directly, and buys milk from 150 family farms in Somerset.
"We hold our farmers to some of the highest standards in the world," said Mr Barber, "in terms of animal welfare and environmental protection.
"I want to make sure they are protected in a future trade deal."
Farmers are worried that British rules on, for instance, not injecting cows with hormones, are not followed in America.
If the UK was to sign a wide-ranging free-trade deal with the US, American beef, chicken or dairy products might be cheaper here, because they are produced to lower standards.
Farming unions have also warned of the dangers of "seeking an urgent trade deal".
The presidents of the National Farmers' Union for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland issued a joint statement.
It said: "Absolutely no one wants to see hormone treated beef, or pork or chicken treated with anti-microbial washes – which are banned here in the UK – sold on our market.
"Those ways of production were banned in the 80s and 90s for a reason. They don't reflect our values and the farm to fork approach we are proud of in the UK, something we know the British people care deeply about."
The British government has always pledged not to water down standards in any trade deals. The prime minister recently repeated his pledge not to strike a deal "at any price".
Sir Keir Starmer said: "I will only strike a deal if it's in the national interest".
Asked in more detail about watering down food and farming standards, Jonathan Reynolds, the Business and Trade Secretary said: "The regime that we put in place in the UK, our food standards regime, that's the red line for us.
"That's a really important area that we wouldn't be able to negotiate on. And the US understands that."
Until there is a trade deal signed by Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, truckles of Somerset cheddar will be a bit pricier in Texas.
Over the last 15 years, Mr Barber has built up his American sales. Barber's cheddar is bought as a premium product, and he has some experience of selling in a trade war.
In 2019 a dispute between the US and the EU blew up over aircraft. Boeing accused the EU of subsidising Airbus planes, and the President, Donald Trump, slapped a 25% tariff on various European exports, including cheese.
"There was an impact on demand in the short term," Mr Barber recalled. "But it recovered over the course of a year."
So what's different now? Mainly, Mr Barber said, the trade war is global. Every import into the US will be more expensive, so "there will be a lot of price increases to the American consumer".
If Americans are poorer, they may buy less fancy foreign cheese, and stick with their own cheaper brands.
Nonetheless he is hopeful that "whilst we'll see some impact up front, it will moderate overtime".
Most British firms who trade with America are less hopeful.
A new survey by the British Chambers of Commerce found that 62% of firms who export to the US said they would be "negatively impacted".
Nearly half, 44%, said the UK government should try and sign a trade deal with Donald Trump.
Shevaun Haviland, director general of the BCC, said: "We believe a deal can be done as the US has already been open to talks."
But many, 40%, had braced themselves for worse.
Laura Ward is one who admitted "when I heard it was 10%, I did breathe a very small sigh of relief".
Ms Ward has developed a luxury tennis clothing brand, Exeat, in Timsbury, Somerset.
"We had prepared ourselves for 20% as a worst case scenario," she said.
In fact, her firm may have found a silver lining to the dark economic clouds on the horizon.
Several Asian manufacturing hubs are subject to much larger tariffs than the UK - which could have a larger impact on British businesses that make their products abroad.
"Many of our competitors manufacture out in China which may well close the door on America at least for the time being," said Ms Ward.
Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Trump rips up rulebook on trade and businesses are left reeling
Trump's 'explosive' global tariffs take effect, including 104% rate on China
Barbers Cheesemakers
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

IDF to resume aid airdrops in Gaza
IDF to resume aid airdrops in Gaza

The Hill

time13 minutes ago

  • The Hill

IDF to resume aid airdrops in Gaza

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they would resume aid airdrops in Gaza on Saturday as reports of starvation in the region emerge and countries seek to quell hunger through humanitarian efforts. 'The aid airdrop operation will be carried out in cooperation with international organizations and the IDF, led by COGAT [Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories] and the Air Force. The airdrop will include seven aid pallets containing flour, sugar, and canned food, which will be provided by international organizations,' the IDF wrote in a Saturday statement on X translated by Grok. 'Additionally, it has been decided that humanitarian corridors will be designated to enable the safe movement of UN [United Nations] and aid organizations' convoys for the delivery of food and medicine to the population,' the IDF added. Israeli officials said more than 250 aid trucks were unloaded this week for collection by the UN and international organizations while resources from approximately 600 trucks were distributed throughout the Gaza Strip. The announcement comes as more than 100 charity and human rights groups said Wednesday that the Israeli government is pushing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip toward starvation, amid deaths caused by continuous air strikes. On Friday, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said British aid would soon be provided through air drops while teams from the country work to evacuate children from Gaza who need critical medical assistance. Starmer said they would be brought to the U.K. for specialist medical treatment. However, despite numerous reports from credible organizations, the IDF has rejected the starvation narrative as one pegged by opposing forces. 'The IDF emphasizes that there is no starvation in Gaza; this is a false campaign by the Hamas terrorist organization,' it said in a Saturday statement. 'The responsibility for distributing food to the population in Gaza lies with the UN and international aid organizations, and it is expected that the UN and international organizations will improve the effectiveness of aid distribution and ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas.'

The American housing market is in a deep freeze—Even lower prices aren't enough to convince stubborn buyers
The American housing market is in a deep freeze—Even lower prices aren't enough to convince stubborn buyers

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

The American housing market is in a deep freeze—Even lower prices aren't enough to convince stubborn buyers

The American new home market is cooling, with softer sales, higher inventory, and falling prices reflecting the current slowdown. The latest New Residential Sales report (June 2025) from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the U.S. housing market is experiencing a slowdown in new single-family home sales, while inventory and supply have increased, and prices are declining. As buyers balk at high home prices and mortgage rates that continue to approach 7%, a recent Oxford Economics report predicts more pain ahead. Concerns about the economy and job security mean many would-be new purchasers are opting to make do with modest home improvements instead. Increased new home sales often indicate strong consumer confidence, greater employment, and accessible financing. Conversely, declines suggest waning buyer interest, affordability issues, or economic stress. 'There's no question that in many of pockets of the Sun Belt—the epicenter of U.S. single-family homebuilding—buyers have gained a considerable amount of leverage this year and the market has softened,' ResiClub editor-in-chief Lance Lambert told Fortune Intelligence. 'In order to keep sales volumes steady, big homebuilders have compressed margins further and done bigger incentives or outright price cuts. Lennar is spending the equivalent of 13.3% of final sales price on incentive, like mortgage rate buydowns,' Lambert noted, up from 1.5% at the height of the Pandemic Housing Boom in the second quarter of 2022. In normal times, Lambert pointed out, Lennar spends 5% to 6% on buyer sales incentives. (Lennar is ranked no. 129 on the Fortune 500.) Key points from the report: New home sales: Sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 627,000 in June 2025. This is only 0.6% higher than May 2025, but 6.6% lower than June 2024, indicating a notable year-over-year decline in buying activity. Inventory: At the end of June, there were 511,000 new houses for sale, a 1.2% increase from May 2025 and an 8.5% increase from June 2024. This rise in inventory suggests that homes are staying on the market longer. Months' supply: The supply of homes relative to the sales rate is now at 9.8 months, up from 9.7 months in May 2025 and 8.4 months in June 2024. A higher months' supply figure generally indicates a slower market with more supply than demand. Prices: The median sales price for new homes in June 2025 was $401,800, which is 4.9% lower than May 2025 and 2.9% lower than June 2024. The average sales price was $501,000, down from the previous month but slightly higher than a year ago. This points to downward pressure on prices, likely due to rising inventory and decreased demand. What it means: The combination of dropping sales, rising inventory, and declining prices indicates a market with weaker demand and increased supply. These conditions are often seen when buyers are constrained (e.g., by high mortgage rates or economic uncertainty), or homebuilders have ramped up production in anticipation of higher demand that didn't fully materialize. The elevated months' supply metric—at almost 10 months—suggests a buyer's market, where purchasers have more negotiating power and sellers may need to lower prices to attract buyers. A new home is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a single-family house that is being sold for the first time. Since new home sales are recorded early in the sales process, trends in new home sales can signal coming shifts in the broader housing market, forecasting changes before they appear in existing home sales data. For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. This story was originally featured on

Photos: Hundreds in S.F. form human banner during ‘Families First' protest of Trump
Photos: Hundreds in S.F. form human banner during ‘Families First' protest of Trump

San Francisco Chronicle​

timean hour ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Photos: Hundreds in S.F. form human banner during ‘Families First' protest of Trump

Hundreds of people gathered at San Francisco's Ocean Beach to form a human banner Saturday morning as part of a nationwide 'Families First' day of action against the Trump administration. As an upside-down American flag flapped in the misty San Francisco summer air, the protesters stood in straight single-file lines near the Cliff House, forming 'FAMILIA!' below letters spelling 'WE ARE.' Children, parents and grandparents, many accompanied by dogs, protested what organizers from Indivisible SF called 'cruel cuts and attacks on our families' by President Donald Trump, including changes to social programs, food stamps and school lunches, 'all so a handful of billionaires can get tax giveaways.' The protest took particular aim at Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the budget he recently signed into law, which cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade and is expected to mean millions of Americans will lose health coverage. Protesters also decried recent raids in the Bay Area and nationwide by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As a ukulele band played Woody Guthrie's 'This Land is Your Land' over speakers, Peter Hosey, 40, stood in a line of people forming the letter 'A' in 'FAMILIA.' 'The message today is 'We are familia,'' Hosey said. 'That certainly resonates for a lot of us when you see what ICE has been doing, deporting children, deporting mothers, putting people in camps.' 'This is not what our country should be,' added Hosey, who works in the tech industry. The crowd, which organizers estimated as 600, then headed to the ocean, raising hands and waving to the water. Protesters then walked back and formed a circle around a large American flag as Sister Sledge's 1979 hit 'We Are Family' played over the speakers. Micki Morales, a retired schoolteacher who lives in Cupertino, was standing in one of the human letter lines when a call went out over the speakers. They needed someone who could sing 'This Land is Your Land.' Morales didn't come to the beach expecting to sing Saturday, but has experience in choruses and decided to offer up her voice. The song took on special meaning for her in the age of Trump. 'It's almost a prayer versus a statement,' said Morales, 88. 'I don't know how we got to this position, how people could be so fooled. But here we are, and hopefully we will dig our ways out.' Several related events were held around the Bay Area, including an afternoon rally at Snow Park in Oakland commemorating the anniversaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Medicaid program and the Social Security Administration. The event featured speeches from Medi-Cal recipients, health care workers, caregivers and community members. One of the featured speakers in Oakland, Jazmine Arreola of the grassroots group Parent Voices Los Angeles, said she has fibromyalgia and is severely impacted by the federal cuts. 'How is it fair that families like mine up and down the state of California have lived our whole lives trying to move up and move forward for our kids, and we just can't?' Arreola, the mother of three children, said in a news release before the protest. 'My closest family members are on Medi-Cal: my dad and my grandparents. My daughter needs eye surgery. These cuts put our lives at risk.' In San Jose, health care workers, patients, community leaders and educators gathered Saturday afternoon at Discovery Meadow to highlight the effect of immigration raids and corporate tax breaks on working families. The Bay Area protests were organized by a coalition of unions, advocacy groups, faith leaders, and families. Events were also planned in San Mateo, Colma and Novato. The 'Families First' day of action included hundreds of rallies in all 50 states, highlighted by a livestreamed mobilization in Washington, D.C. The Washington demonstration included a 60-hour vigil at the National Mall to protest cuts to federal programs benefiting families. The events follow anti-Trump rallies that drew tens of thousands of people around the Bay Area and nationwide, including No Kings Day in June and 'Hands Off' in April. The San Francisco protest was organized by the same people who spelled out 'No King' on Ocean Beach during the nationwide No Kings protests this year. Several drones hovered overhead to capture their latest message. When it came to keeping the participants in orderly lines to spell their message clearly for the drones overhead, the job largely fell on Brad Newsham, 73. Newsham, a writer and former longtime cabdriver in the city, has been organizing protests like this one since 2007. Their causes have spanned the eras, from calls to impeach President George W. Bush, to support for Occupy Wall Street and now opposition to Trump. 'This is No. 28,' Newsham said. 'This has been incredible.' Newsham walked around the sand in a bright yellow jacket Saturday, delivering orders to the crowd via bullhorn. His injured ankle didn't hold him back. 'It's cool when you get a shot from the sky of all these people,' he said. When a group of protesters wearing purple union shirts bunched up in a line that was supposed to be single file, Newsham whipped them into shape. 'Hey SEIU, squeeze in!' he shouted into the bullhorn. 'It makes a better picture, you can do it.' Newsham seemed to get a kick out of it. 'It's an awesome responsibility,' he said. The demonstrators spelled out 'FAMILIA' to protest what Newsham's co-organizer, Travis Van Brasch, called ICE's 'completely illegal, cruel, stupid, unnecessary' raids. 'We are saying it in Spanish because that's where most of the trouble is,' said Van Brasch, 72. Warren Pederson contributed to this report.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store