All this speculation about new trading possibilities generates some interesting insights. It has been revealed, for example, that US beef originates from cattle dosed with 5 times as much antibiotic medicine as is allowable in the UK (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/08/huge-levels-of-antibiotic-use-in-us-farming-revealed). These drugs are used by farmers to stimulate growth (and profits) rather than to counter disease (and some US farmers additionally use bovine somatotrophic [growth] hormone, which is also outlawed in Europe). Overuse of antibiotics in farming is one of the practises that is leading to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, perhaps returning medicine to a pre-antibiotic era, where infection of a minor cut could lead to death. Unfortunately, banning US beef products in Europe (even if possible) will not keep any evolving dangerous bacterial strains on the other side of the Atlantic!
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