Reynolds agrees need for ‘urgent next steps' with bioethanol firms over US deal
Representatives of ABF Sugar and Ensus said Jonathan Reynolds had committed to act within 'days, not weeks' amid concerns hundreds of jobs could be at risk.
The Government is 'open to discussion' of potential options to support the industry, the Department for Business and Trade said.
The agreement between London and Washington includes a UK concession to cut British tariffs on US ethanol, which is used to produce beer and as a fuel additive, from 19% to 0%.
ABF Sugar and Ensus, the two main firms producing UK bioethanol – a form of renewable energy produced from agricultural materials – have said the deal could lead to the closure of the country's two biggest plants.
Mr Reynolds met representatives from both companies and local MPs on Wednesday for talks about the agreement.
In a joint statement, ABF Sugar chief executive Paul Kenward and Ensus chairman Grant Pearson said: 'We had a constructive discussion today with the Secretary of State and local MPs.
'We were pleased that the Secretary of State recognised the strategic importance of the UK bioethanol industry and acknowledged the urgency of the situation, with a commitment to act in days, not weeks.
'We will continue to engage closely and constructively with Government over the coming days to help secure a positive outcome for the industry, our workers and the communities we support.'
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: '(The Business Secretary) made clear that the Government is working closely with the industry to understand the impacts on those companies and is open to discussion over potential options for support.
'The Business Secretary agreed to work alongside Cabinet colleagues to look into the issue further and explore putting a process in place to protect future UK production of bioethanol.
'Both sides acknowledged the significance of the sector, and the need for urgent next steps.
'The Business Secretary reiterated the merits of the deal, which will protect thousands of jobs across key sectors – from farming to pharmaceuticals – and lay the groundwork for greater trade in the future.'
Mr Kenward and Mr Pearson told The Times earlier this week that the facilities in Salt End, East Yorkshire, and Wilton, Teesside, would be at risk and the UK industry faced an 'existential threat' after the deal.
Under the trade agreement, the first of its kind to be struck by the new Trump administration, the White House agreed to ease some of its sweeping tariffs for industries like cars and steel.
It removed the 25% tariff rate on UK steel and aluminium exports, reducing the trade barrier for these goods to zero, while American levies on British cars fall to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles exported.
Both sides have said the details of the deal will be worked out in the weeks ahead.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Ministers ‘abusing' anti-terror laws against Palestine activists
Organisers estimated that 350,000 people attended the protest, with those marching waving Palestinian flags and chanting 'free, free Palestine' and 'stop bombing Iran'. Many protesters chanted 'shame on you' as they walked past dozens of counter-protesters, organised by pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate, near Waterloo Bridge. The Metropolitan Police said a person was arrested after a bottle was thrown towards the counter-protesters. They added that 'a group appeared on Waterloo Bridge trying to block traffic' following the protest, with officers intervening to clear the road. The demonstrations come after reports on Friday that the Home Secretary will ban Palestine Action after the group vandalised two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. Yvette Cooper has decided to proscribe the group, making it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, after footage posted online showed two people inside the RAF base, with one appearing to spray paint into an aircraft's jet engine. Addressing crowds at the national march for Palestine in Whitehall, former SNP leader Mr Yousaf said: 'While we stand a stone's throw from Downing Street, let's make it clear to the Prime Minister: You try to intimidate us with your anti-terror laws by abusing them, but you'll never silence us as we speak out against the genocide that you're supporting. 'We're not the terrorists – the ones that are literally killing children, they are the terrorists.' A pro-Palestine protester said it was 'absolutely horrendous' that the Government is preparing to ban Palestine Action. Paloma Faith speaking after a march organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in London (Jeff Moore/PA) Artist Hannah Woodhouse, 61, told the PA news agency: 'The Government, since yesterday, have said they're also going to start to try to proscribe peace activists who are trying to take action against the genocide – so Palestine Action are now being targeted by our Government, which is absolutely horrendous.' Ms Woodhouse, who is from London, added: 'Counter-terrorism measures, it seems, are being used against non-violent peace protesters. 'The peace activists are trying to do the Government's job, which is to disarm Israel. The duty of any government right now is to disarm a genocidal state.' Musician Paloma Faith told pro-Palestine campaigners that she would not 'stick to music and stay away from politics'. Speaking to crowds at the march, the songwriter, 43, added: 'Those who facilitate these crimes against humanity need to be made accountable, not those of us who are compassionate and humane enough to stand against it.' Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told protesters that politicians were seeking to 'turn people who protest against the invasion of Iran or the occupation of Palestine into terrorists'. Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking after a march organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, from Russell Square to Whitehall in central London (Jeff Moore/PA) Some protesters were carrying Iran flags, with others hoisting signs – distributed by the Islamic Human Rights Commission – that read 'choose the right side of history' alongside a photo of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Human rights group Liberty said banning Palestine Action 'would be a huge step change in how counter-terror laws are applied'. Sam Grant, its external affairs director, said in a statement: 'Targeting a protest group with terrorism powers in this way is a shocking escalation of the Government's crackdown on protest and we urge the Home Secretary to rethink. 'It's clear the actions of Palestine Action don't meet the Government's own proportionality test to be proscribed as a terrorist group, but the consequences for the group's supporters if ministers go ahead would be heavy – with things like wearing their logo carrying prison sentences. 'This move needs to be viewed in light of the sustained crackdowns on protest we have seen from successive governments over recent years, and the worrying fact that there are more and more non-violent protesters spending years in prison.' The Palestine Coalition is comprised of a number of different groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop The War.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Ministers ‘abusing' anti-terror laws against Palestine activists
A protest organised by groups under the Palestine Coalition banner marched to Whitehall from Russell Square in central London on Saturday afternoon. Organisers estimated that 350,000 people attended the protest, with those marching waving Palestinian flags and chanting 'free, free Palestine' and 'stop bombing Iran'. Many protesters chanted 'shame on you' as they walked past dozens of counter-protesters, organised by pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate, near Waterloo Bridge. The Metropolitan Police said a person was arrested after a bottle was thrown towards the counter-protesters. They added that 'a group appeared on Waterloo Bridge trying to block traffic' following the protest, with officers intervening to clear the road. The demonstrations come after reports on Friday that the Home Secretary will ban Palestine Action after the group vandalised two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. Yvette Cooper has decided to proscribe the group, making it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, after footage posted online showed two people inside the RAF base, with one appearing to spray paint into an aircraft's jet engine. Addressing crowds at the national march for Palestine in Whitehall, former SNP leader Mr Yousaf said: 'While we stand a stone's throw from Downing Street, let's make it clear to the Prime Minister: You try to intimidate us with your anti-terror laws by abusing them, but you'll never silence us as we speak out against the genocide that you're supporting. 'We're not the terrorists – the ones that are literally killing children, they are the terrorists.' A pro-Palestine protester said it was 'absolutely horrendous' that the Government is preparing to ban Palestine Action. Artist Hannah Woodhouse, 61, told the PA news agency: 'The Government, since yesterday, have said they're also going to start to try to proscribe peace activists who are trying to take action against the genocide – so Palestine Action are now being targeted by our Government, which is absolutely horrendous.' Ms Woodhouse, who is from London, added: 'Counter-terrorism measures, it seems, are being used against non-violent peace protesters. 'The peace activists are trying to do the Government's job, which is to disarm Israel. The duty of any government right now is to disarm a genocidal state.' Musician Paloma Faith told pro-Palestine campaigners that she would not 'stick to music and stay away from politics'. Speaking to crowds at the march, the songwriter, 43, added: 'Those who facilitate these crimes against humanity need to be made accountable, not those of us who are compassionate and humane enough to stand against it.' Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told protesters that politicians were seeking to 'turn people who protest against the invasion of Iran or the occupation of Palestine into terrorists'. Some protesters were carrying Iran flags, with others hoisting signs – distributed by the Islamic Human Rights Commission – that read 'choose the right side of history' alongside a photo of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Human rights group Liberty said banning Palestine Action 'would be a huge step change in how counter-terror laws are applied'. Sam Grant, its external affairs director, said in a statement: 'Targeting a protest group with terrorism powers in this way is a shocking escalation of the Government's crackdown on protest and we urge the Home Secretary to rethink. 'It's clear the actions of Palestine Action don't meet the Government's own proportionality test to be proscribed as a terrorist group, but the consequences for the group's supporters if ministers go ahead would be heavy – with things like wearing their logo carrying prison sentences. 'This move needs to be viewed in light of the sustained crackdowns on protest we have seen from successive governments over recent years, and the worrying fact that there are more and more non-violent protesters spending years in prison.' The Palestine Coalition is comprised of a number of different groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop The War.
Economist
an hour ago
- Economist
An explosive moment of truth for Iran and Israel
THE SECOND week of Israel's war on Iran may be even more dangerous than the first. In Iran the destruction is relentless: on June 21st there were strikes on its Isfahan nuclear facility and more assassinations. For Israel, after a dazzling display of prowess, the coming days threaten to expose horribly the limits of its military power, with a long-distance air campaign suffering diminishing returns and Iran's regime recovering its poise. A war that peters out would leave the regime intact and with greater incentives to race for a bomb. That nightmarish prospect may lead Israel to escalate in the pursuit of a knock-out blow or to draw in America. President Donald Trump was due to meet his national security team on June 21st and B-2 stealth bombers are being moved out of America. Iran is ramping-up threats. On June 21st it warned American involvemen t would be 'very, very dangerous for everybody'.
