The United Kingdom and the United States will start Tuesday to negotiate a trade deal geared at revitalizing the coronavirus-slammed economies of the two nations.
An initial round of discussions, started with a video call between U.S. Trade official Robert Lighthizer and U.K. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, will be held for two weeks, based on a statement by the British Embassy.
On either side about 100 delegates will negotiate products and services, digital exchange, investment and business support. According to the announcement, additional rounds will occur approximately every six weeks and will be performed out remotely until travel is safe.
The talks will be led by Oliver Griffiths at the UK's Department of International Trade and Daniel Mullaney, the assistant US trade representative for Europe and the Middle East, at official level.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has long claimed that one of the biggest rewards to be won by leaving the European Union is a free trade agreement with the US, which gives a big boost to the economy.
Detractors, however, also argued that negotiating a deal would compel Britain to embrace looser US food and environmental regulations as well as opening up the NHS to American companies, which the government disputes.
The Trump administration is looking to move supply chains back to the U.S. and away from China, where the novel coronavirus is said to have originated, and is promoting a drive for medical and other supplies to "Buy American."
Given the strong British opposition to US genetically-modified crops and antibacterial poultry treatments, agriculture is likely to be among the most contentious issues in the negotiations. Johnson has promised to push a "hard bargain" and Truss has stated Britain will not lower its food safety standards.
In 2018, the United States accounted for about 19 per cent of all European exports and 11 per cent of imports.
Ministers set out expectations for lower trade barriers for British car makers, ceramics makers and suppliers of goods such as cheddar cheese in a 180-page paper outlining the UK's March goals, while pledging to uphold market and environmental regulations. Downing Street also stated that the National Health Service is "off the table."
Securing a European-US free trade deal can set the stage for more stable economies, and develop the capacity for better jobs, higher salaries, better choice and lower prices for consumers in both the two nations, U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Dame Karen Pierce, said.
