US president Joe Biden has not yet made any commitments to a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. According to Biden, the issue was only discussed during a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was visiting the White House.
Since Brexit, the British have been committed to making trade agreements with various countries, including the United States. According to 10 Downing Street, reaching an agreement with the US is still the first priority. An agreement could stimulate trade between countries by, for example, lowering taxes and import duties. Unlike under US ex-president Donald Trump, negotiations are slow.
Biden says the deal is still being discussed. ”We’ll have to work that out,” Biden said when he stood next to Johnson in response to a question about a deal that the British in particular are pushing hard for. The wait-and-see attitude of the Americans does not indicate the thrive for progress.
In addition to a trade agreement, the two heads of government discussed the issue of Northern Ireland. Biden said that he “would not like the Irish agreements to change at all”. However, he stressed that the Trade Agreement and the Irish question were “two different issues”.
Last week, Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, linked respect for the peace agreement in Northern Ireland, which provides for an open border with Ireland, to possible trade negotiations with London. The UK Government is currently engaged in post-Brexit negotiations with the EU on customs arrangements for Northern Ireland.