The British government will this week begin formal negotiations with the administration in the USA on a trade deal. The Secretary for International Trade Liz Truss will meet her American counterpart Robert Lighthizer remotely this week via video conference. The first round of negotiations is expected to last around a fortnight with over 100 negotiators involved.
The talks will run in parallel to discussions between the UK and EU in talks that have already began. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly stated that his government will drive a hard bargain in the negotiations with the USA. Government figures have previously estimated that a transatlantic deal with the US would boost the UK economy to the tune of £3.4 billion. The particularly benefited regions will be Scotland, the North-East of England and the Midlands.
The government have also repeatedly denied, in response to claims from some Labour party figures that, NHS would be for sale and that food standards could be compromised. The PM has previously stated “We’re going to drive a hard bargain to boost British industry. Trading Scottish smoked salmon for Stetson hats, we will deliver lower prices and more choice for our shoppers”.
It has been planned that British negotiators would be holding alternate talks in the UK and US, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the talks will now be held virtually using video conferencing technology. The USA is the UK’s largest trading partner apart from the EU with the trade currently enjoyed accounting for nearly 19 per cent of all exports in 2018 and 11 per cent of imports.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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