British trade minister visits Washington

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) – British commerce minister Kemi Badenoch will go to Washington on Monday to satisfy politicians and deal with enterprise representatives to attempt to enhance ties with the USA whilst talks over a free commerce deal have stalled.

A U.S. free commerce deal was touted because the one of many greatest prizes for Britain leaving the European Union. However hopes of a fast settlement had been dashed when the incoming Biden administration put all free commerce talks on ice.

Badenoch’s workplace mentioned she would emphasise the necessity to promote robust buying and selling alliances to problem the specter of authoritarian states. She can even say Britain and the USA ought to work collectively on points similar to defending long-term power safety and strengthening provide chains.

“Each the UK and the U.S. know we can not have safety at dwelling with out safety overseas, and we have to make the worldwide financial system resilient to future shocks,” Badenoch mentioned in an announcement.

The British commerce division mentioned Badenoch was because of meet with politicians, together with U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, and communicate at a enterprise roundtable occasion.

Within the absence of a broader commerce take care of the USA, Britain has been working to safe memorandums of understanding with particular person states.

Agreements had been signed with Indiana and North Carolina earlier this yr and talks are ongoing with a number of different states together with Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.

The state-level MOUs have been criticised by the opposition Labour Occasion as being no substitute for a full U.S.-UK commerce deal.

Reporting by Kylie MacLellan. Enhancing by Jane Merriman

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