The United Kingdom and the United States are starting negotiations on Tuesday (05.05.2020) on an "ambitious" free trade agreement that is due to come into force after the post-Brexit transition period that ends at the end of the year.
Leading two teams of around a hundred people were British International Trade Minister Liz Truss and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. They will begin this first round of negotiations by videoconference, which should last about two weeks..
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a staunch Brexiteer, has long championed the trade opportunities he sees in leaving the European Union, particularly with its US ally.
But the opposition fears that a new free trade agreement with the United States will come at the expense of environmental and food standards.
Concerns have also been raised about the possible privatisation of parts of Britain's public health service, the National Health Service (NHS), despite repeated denials from the government.
«We want an ambitious agreement that opens new opportunities for our businesses, generates more investment and creates better jobs for people across the country."," Truss said in a statement.
Trade between the two countries reached £220.900 billion ($275.000 billion, 253.000 billion euros) last year.
Exports to the United States accounted for almost 20% of total British exports, according to official data.
This first round of negotiations will Others will follow every six weeks or so, which will be carried out remotely for the time being. due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At the same time, the United Kingdom, which officially left the European Union on January 31 after 47 years of a difficult marriage, hopes to conclude a free trade agreement with Brussels by the end of the year, when the transition period ends during which the British continue to apply European rules.
The talks do not seem to be making any progress at the moment. The next round of negotiations between London and Brussels is scheduled for 11 May.
Source: AFP
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