UK could put tariffs on food from countries with lower standards

Environment secretary tells farmers WTO rules would allow UK to uphold standards

The UK could introduce tariffs on imports of food from countries with lower food safety and farming standards than the UK, using World Trade Organization rules, the environment secretary has suggested.

"We want to ensure all our food comes from countries that meet our standards," Theresa Villiers told an audience of farmers on Wednesday. "That is what the powerful tools of the WTO do, they enable us to impose tariffs where we believe products do not meet our high standards."