UK-US trade deal would not allow chlorinated chicken imports – Gove

Environment secretary responds to Liam Fox's remarks by saying UK would avoid deal requiring it to accept lower standards

The UK would back out of any trade deal that required it to accept lower standards, such as allowing imports of chlorinated chicken from the US, the environment secretary has said, deepening the cabinet split over the issue.

Michael Gove has opposed the suggestion by the trade secretary, Liam Fox, that the UK should be open to the prospect of allowing poultry treated with a chlorine wash process, which is banned by the EU, as part of a trade deal with the US.