The US Ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, was brutal this week on the BBC radio 4 morning news programme when he accused the EU of being a museum for agriculture by not accepting hormone-treated beef or the liberal use of chlorine acid in chicken processing.

The fact is that he has a point certainly where use of growth-promoting hormones in beef is concerned.

Back in 2005, the World Trade Organisation, which acts as the global court on international trade disputes, ruled in favour of the US when the EU was challenged on using the use of hormones as a non-tariff barrier.

EU or US standards

With the UK about to depart the EU, it faces a decision on which global production standard it will follow – the US or the EU model.

So far, the UK has been loud in its pronouncements that there will be no diminution of standards post-Brexit.

However, it could credibly argue that by pursuing the US standard that was favourably adjudicated on by the WTO, it isn't reducing standards.

That inevitably would mean a very hard border if one standard prevailed in the UK that was not accepted by the EU

Where this would cause a problem is in relationship with the EU, which will continue its present precautionary principle policy.

That inevitably would mean a very hard border if one standard prevailed in the UK that was not accepted by the EU.

It is the latest in a series of frustrations experienced by the UK as it moves to strike out its own position independent of the EU in global trading.

A similar frustrating experience has been the attempt to roll over EU negotiated trade deals to take effect on the UK departing the EU.

The major potential trading partners of Japan and Canada have pointedly refused to roll over the present deal.

They have indicated that they want a separate negotiation, which means they expect to negotiate more favourable terms with the UK on its own than they did with the EU 28.

Global trade

These examples illustrate the challenge that lies ahead for the UK as it flies solo in the global trading arena.

There are these two major issues – tariffs and standards – on which a policy has to be adopted that will then dominate the focus of UK business.

Align with the US and UK trade will be focused on the rest of the world. Align with the EU and the prospects of a trade deal with the US look bleak.

Health certification

Then there is the issue of health certification. Currently, UK produce is exported beyond the EU on EU health certificates. After 29 March, if there is no deal or transition, the UK will no longer have access to these and will have to issue its own.

The UK is well capable of doing so but there is the issue of having these agreed and accepted by importing countries. The UK will expect that as on day one, UK standards will be completely aligned with EU standards and this should be straightforward.

However, the reality is that when it comes to international trade nothing is straightforward. The real work for post-Brexit UK has yet to begin and the backstop will be no more than a footnote in sorting future trade deals.

Navigating Global Trade

Hear more about Brexit and global trade at the Irish Farmers Journal conference in partnership with Grant Thornton which will be held next Friday 15 March in the RDS.