Government Ridiculed Over Soy Sauce Tweet During Great British Bake Off
Claims by Liz Truss’ Department for International Trade that soy sauce has been “made cheaper” by the UK-Japan trade deal have been ridiculed.
The government tweeted during Channel 4′s Great British Bake Off show on Tuesday night, remarking how contestants “used a lot of soya sauce”, and it was “a good thing it will be made cheaper”.
As it stands, soy sauce is not subject to any tariffs as the UK continues to benefit from some EU trade deals, at least until December 31, and is seeking an agreement with the bloc.
The bakers used a lot of soya sauce in the first challenge on #GBBO, so it's a good thing it will be made cheaper thanks to our trade deal with Japan 🇯🇵
— Department for International Trade (@tradegovuk) October 27, 2020
The department later clarified it was referring to tariffs the UK could be paying – 6% – under a no-deal scenario, which would push the country on to World Trade Organisation terms.
Trade expert David Henig was among those who challenged the department over the claims, saying it was “not a good look when you can’t trust a government social media account to tell the truth.
Current tariff on soy sauce entering the UK from Japan - 0%. Tariff on soy sauce entering UK after UK-Japan trade deal - 0%.
Not a good look when you can't trust a government social media account to tell the truth. https://t.co/IVH5Qg8LtV— David Henig (@DavidHenigUK) October 27, 2020
Best not argue. Might have been accurate if the account had said "thanks to the trade deal the price won't go up compared to now". Also, checking my own soy sauce, it says "Naturally brewed in China. Blended in the UK" Is that going to be cheaper after a UK-Japan deal? pic.twitter.com/WyrlFFyvEt
— David Henig (@DavidHenigUK) October 27, 2020
Truss negotiated the deal with the Japanese government last month.
It will mean nearly all the UK’s exports to Japan will be tariff free and remove British tariffs on Japanese cars by 2026.
Truss has celebrated the...
