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Biden, Joe

US Ruling Out Post-Brexit Trade Talks with the UK

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

US President Joe Biden has arrived in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, but his visit is unlikely to result in talks about a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK. A White House official has stated that the two leaders, Biden and Rishi Sunak, will not discuss a free trade agreement during their meeting. However, the US remains open to engaging with the UK on economic issues, and President Biden has invited Prime Minister Sunak to Washington in June to discuss economic topics.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US has ruled out talks about a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK during President Joe Biden's visit to Northern Ireland.
  • The White House confirmed that President Biden will not discuss a free trade agreement with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during their meeting in Belfast.
  • The US remains open to engaging with the UK on a range of economic issues, as stated by National Security Council Senior Director for Europe Amanda Sloat.
  • President Biden has invited Prime Minister Sunak to Washington in June to discuss economic topics.
  • The UK is looking to strike trade agreements following its departure from the European Union, but has so far failed to secure a major trade deal with the US.
  • Successive prime ministers, including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss, have all failed to pin down a deal with the US.
  • The UK's new Windsor Framework pact with the EU has raised hopes that tensions with the Democrats in the US could ease, paving the way for talks.

Statistics:

  • The US has ruled out talks about a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK.
  • The UK has failed to secure a major trade deal with the US despite successive prime ministers attempting to negotiate one.
  • The US has invited the UK to Washington in June to discuss economic topics.
  • The premium on trans-Atlantic trade is growing massively, with UK exports to the US increasing significantly.
  • The UK's relationship with America economically is very strong, with the US being the UK's largest trading partner.

Sources:

  • "By the White House official who made the statement that the US has ruled out talks on a post-Brexit trade deal"
  • "The White House last week said that President Biden's visit to Belfast would 'mark the tremendous progress' since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. It added that the visit would 'underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Ireland's vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities'."
  • Mr Sunak told GB News: "It's just people should actually know that our relationship with America economically is very strong, our exports are growing massively anyway and we're concluding agreements with states."

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