Ah, UK-US trade talks, I've been expecting you. thesun.co.uk/news/11529766/…
Launch of UK-US trade talks was supposed to be in late March but the UK side very reluctantly had to cancel plans to travel due to the coronavirus crisis.
The sceptics may say otherwise but Trump wants a deal before the Presidential election. On his terms obviously, which really has to mean gains for US agriculture and to ensure US industrial standards are deemed equivalent to British standards.
There are few likely gains for UK exporters. US tariffs are already low, regulatory barriers tough and usually unchanged in their trade deals, and their highly protected procurement market unlikely to be opened by an 'America First' President.
Politics is interesting. Does going full-out for a US deal under this President reduce the chance of an agreement if Biden wins? (nobody really knows tbh). It probably doesn't make much difference to UK-EU talks though doubtless it will be claimed otherwise.
Then there's a UK government involved in simultaneous talks to fix the terms for 70% of our trade in 6 months at the same time as tackling the coronavirus crisis. MPs, business, farmers, devolved authorities etc will have a lot to say if allowed...
There's been a tendency among some UK politics watchers to think a US trade deal unlikely. But it is so essential to some Brexit visions I'm not so sure. Upsetting farmers in exchange for a success may be a price the government feels to be worth paying. Watch this space. /end
PS I claim the prize for the longest thread on UK-US trade talks not to mention the phrase 'chlorinated chicken'. I therefore win one, to be allowed into the UK once a deal is in place...
