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| Britain Goes for Front of the Line in US Trade Talks |
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Britain is poised
to secure a place
at the front of the line
on trade negotiations with the United States,
just more than a year after then-President Barack Obama warned the British
about the future trade relationship
if they voted
to leave the European Union.
British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government hopes that
Brexit and U.S. President Donald Trump’s America First policy
can avoid the pitfalls of protectionism.
"It’s very important
that we keep the United States orientated
towards an open, free trading approach
because it is the world's biggest economy
and what happens there will affect everybody else.
So I think that
directing the debate away from some of the protectionist noises
into a free market, rules-based debate
is a very important discussion
for us to have."
The talks are only preliminary.
Britain has no authority
to enter trade agreements
until it is completely out of the European Union,
and that is two years away.
But laying down the groundwork early is important politically,
as the popularity of May’s leftist rival, Jeremy Corbyn, grows
and so do concerns
that a U.S. trade deal may mean
opening up Britain’s national health care system
to U.S. firms.
For the British,
agriculture is a major sticking point.
There are big differences
between U.S. and British farming methods
when it comes to the use of antibiotics
and genetically modified crops,
neither of which are welcome
on British store shelves.
In the important financial services sector
ties are already strong,
and some believe
a direct U.S. deal could mean more growth,
says venture capitalist Rob Misselbrook via Skype.
"When you are dealing with the E.U.,
you are dealing with a trade agreement
all these different pressure points come in
from Italian wine makers
to French cheese makers
to German auto.
Dealing on a direct basis,
it’s us and them."
President Trump says
he wants to move very quickly
on a trade deal with Britain.
The British went to Washington confident
Trump and the U.S. Congress are on their side.
Luis Ramirez, VOA News, London |
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