US wants UK to open up its agriculture markets as part of new trade deal

Potentially wide-ranging agreement could be unachievable due to British objections to lower animal welfare standards

The US is pushing for Britain to open up its agricultural markets to US traders as part of a new economic agreement that would fall just short of a free trade agreement.

Washington and London have begun negotiations over a “foundational trade partnership”, which would cover subjects such as digital trade, labour protections and agriculture, according to documents seen by the Guardian and first revealed by Politico.