Trump adviser Bolton: U.S. would enthusiastically support a UK choice for no-deal Brexit

[webfact]

Trump adviser Bolton: U.S. would enthusiastically support a UK choice for no-deal Brexit

By Steve Holland

 

U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton, meets with journalists during a visit to London, Britain August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States would enthusiastically support a no-deal Brexit if that is what the British government decided to do, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said on Monday during a visit to London aimed at reassuring Britain over UK-U.S. ties.

 

Bolton told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that President Donald Trump wants to see a successful British exit from the European Union on Oct. 31 and that Washington will be ready to work fast on a U.S.-UK free trade agreement.

 

Johnson wants the EU to renegotiate the terms of Britain's exit ahead of an Oct. 31 departure date, but the EU says it will not alter the part of the deal Johnson says must be changed.

 

The impasse leaves Britain facing an exit without any formal transition period or legal agreement covering issues such as trade, data transfers and border policy.

 

"If that's the decision of the British government we will support it enthusiastically, and that's what I'm trying to convey. We're with you, we're with you," Bolton told reporters after his first day of meetings.

 

As Britain prepares to leave the European Union, its biggest geopolitical shift since World War Two, many diplomats expect London to become increasingly reliant on the United States.

 

Bolton, in London for two days of talks, is seeking an improved U.S.-British relationship with Johnson after sometimes tense ties between Trump and Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May.

 

He said British officials had given him an unmistakable sense that they were determined to honour the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU. Bolton offered his support for this stance:

 

“The fashion in the European Union: When the people vote the wrong way from the way the elites want to go, it’s to make the peasants vote again and again until they get it right,” he said.

 

TRADE DEAL

The central message Bolton was delivering is that the United States would help cushion Britain's exit from the EU with a free trade deal that is being negotiated by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and his British counterpart, Liz Truss.

 

Bolton said Britain and the United States could agree trade deals on a sector-by-sector basis, leaving more difficult areas in the trading relationship until later.

 

He said the ultimate aim was a comprehensive trade deal, but highlighted that financial services could be one of the more difficult industries to reach an agreement on.

 

Earlier a senior Trump administration official told travelling reporters the president had wanted to work with the May government on a trade deal but her government "didn't want do it. This government does. We're very happy about it."

 

Trump believes that "when it comes to trade negotiations the EU is worse than China, only smaller", the official said.

 

Johnson spoke to Trump on Monday, discussing Brexit, trade and economic issues, his office said. "They discussed global economic issues and trade, and the prime minister updated the president on Brexit," Downing Street said.

 

"The president expressed his appreciation for the United Kingdom's steadfast partnership in addressing global challenges and looks forward to meeting with him (Johnson) personally in the near future," the White House said.

 

IRAN AND CHINA

Bolton had been expected to urge officials from Johnson's newly formed, eurosceptic government to align its policy on Iran more along the lines of the United States, which has pushed a much tougher line against Tehran since withdrawing from world powers' 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran.

 

But, after his meetings Bolton said talks on some of these thornier diplomatic issues could wait.

 

Bolton said his message had been: "We're not here to pressure you on this ... We want to be helpful on Brexit."

 

Britain, one of three European partners to the deal along with Germany and France, has so far backed the EU in sticking with the accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

 

But the seizure of a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran last month has put pressure on London to consider a more robust stance.

 

British marines seized an Iranian vessel, which is suspected of smuggling oil to Syria, off the coast of Gibraltar on July 4. This month, Britain joined the United States in a maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect merchant vessels.

 

Trump has also sought Britain's help in getting tougher on the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei out of concern that its next-generation 5G technology represent a national security risk. Washington wants its allies, including Britain, to avoid using equipment from Huawei.

 

(Reporting Steve Holland; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Heinrich and Alison Williams)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-13

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[pegman]

Yeah, so the Yanks could feast on the remains. 

[simple1]

18 minutes ago, pegman said:

Yeah, so the Yanks could feast on the remains. 

More like gleefully supporting Brannon's agenda

[bluebluewater]

Taking advantage of the misfortune of others (even if they brought it on themselves) is the basis for a whole lot of capitalism.

[Samui Bodoh]

"...As Britain prepares to leave the European Union, its biggest geopolitical shift since World War Two, many diplomats expect London to become increasingly reliant on the United States..."

 

And, more reliant on Donald Trump in particular.

 

UK, what happened to you? How did you allow yourself to get into this position?

 

The simple fact is that if the UK leaves the EU without a deal in October, then it'll be wholly reliant on the 'goodwill' of Donald Trump for its immediate economic future. And...

 

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

My sincere apologies, UK. I have many friends from your country, but if you allow yourself to go down this path, you'll deserve all that will occur.

 

Sad, sad times.

 

 

[Somtamnication]

No one wants to rely on Trump; American diplomacy is in tatters. The UK will be fine November 1st.

[stevenl]

The bigger the EU, the more it is a threat to US domination.

[TopDeadSenter]

This news comes as a harsh blow to team remain. The last thing they want to see is a fruitful trade deal between the UK and the US. No, they want catastrophic hardship and economic ruin to prove that all the negativity and moaning was justified. Well, bad luck. 

[stevenl]

7 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

This news comes as a harsh blow to team remain. The last thing they want to see is a fruitful trade deal between the UK and the US. No, they want catastrophic hardship and economic ruin to prove that all the negativity and moaning was justified. Well, bad luck. 

News, what news? Nothing new here.

[Chomper Higgot]

Is this the same Bolton who is making demands that British foreign policy must be aligned with that of the US?!

[Scott]

Troll post and reply removed.  

[legend49]

None of his business keep his nose out of foreign countries affairs

[Joe Mcseismic]

The rest of the world have been forming trade blocks. It makes sense as many countries together can get rid of tariffs within the block, which distorts trade, and have more power when discussing trade with other blocks.

We now have the EU, Mercosur, TPP, Pacific Alliance, NAFTA (or it's successor) and many others.

The time for single country trading has been over for a long time now. The UK is going backwards.

 

Whilst the EU has many, many faults, most notably politics, rules and regulations, this was made up for by the free movement of goods and labour.

 

Just remember what the US government's catch phrase is. "America First". The UK better have some Vaseline at hand. 

[Emdog]

Why would Bolton and Trump love a no deal exit? A starving person doesn't have much leverage when negotiating price of bread perhaps?

[Chomper Higgot]

Joe Mcseismic nailed it.

 

”America First”

 

And don’t ever for get it.

[edwinchester]

59 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

This news comes as a harsh blow to team remain. The last thing they want to see is a fruitful trade deal between the UK and the US. No, they want catastrophic hardship and economic ruin to prove that all the negativity and moaning was justified. Well, bad luck. 

The trouble is any trade deal between the US and UK is very unlikely to be in the UK's interests.

The US will want access to the NHS which will be disastrous for healthcare in the UK.

UK would be forced to accept American food and I for one do not want low quality US food imports destroying UK farming.

Remember....America 1st is what it's all about and that would be guaranteed to apply to any US/UK trade deal too.

[jvs]

They are looking for a big enough tug boat as we speak,to tow the new federal district

some where close to the US coast.

Why, not they already speak the language(major point) .

History going backwards?

[nauseus]

57 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

The rest of the world have been forming trade blocks. It makes sense as many countries together can get rid of tariffs within the block, which distorts trade, and have more power when discussing trade with other blocks.

We now have the EU, Mercosur, TPP, Pacific Alliance, NAFTA (or it's successor) and many others.

The time for single country trading has been over for a long time now. The UK is going backwards.

 

Whilst the EU has many, many faults, most notably politics, rules and regulations, this was made up for by the free movement of goods and labour.

 

Just remember what the US government's catch phrase is. "America First". The UK better have some Vaseline at hand. 

That's the problem. The EU is not just a trading block. I wish it was.

[TopDeadSenter]

48 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

The trouble is any trade deal between the US and UK is very unlikely to be in the UK's interests.

The US will want access to the NHS which will be disastrous for healthcare in the UK.

UK would be forced to accept American food and I for one do not want low quality US food imports destroying UK farming.

Remember....America 1st is what it's all about and that would be guaranteed to apply to any US/UK trade deal too.

Bizarre post. Could you explain why any trade deal with the US would a) guarantee visa-free movement of people, and the right for Americans to avail themselves of our NHS? 

 That Trump has already clarified should be of help to you 

 

"the US president told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I don't see it being on the table."

He added that the NHS was something he would "not consider part of trade".

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48525211

 

 You may not have noticed, but the US is a huge market, and goods produced in the UK have a high reputation for quality plus a certain "coolness" factor across the pond. For ex certain whiskies and cheeses. Any trade deal will certainly be in the UK's interest. I would guess a mutual interest.

 Now please clarify your doomsday predictions...

[Chomper Higgot]

23 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Bizarre post. Could you explain why any trade deal with the US would a) guarantee visa-free movement of people, and the right for Americans to avail themselves of our NHS? 

 That Trump has already clarified should be of help to you 

 

"the US president told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I don't see it being on the table."

He added that the NHS was something he would "not consider part of trade".

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48525211

 

 You may not have noticed, but the US is a huge market, and goods produced in the UK have a high reputation for quality plus a certain "coolness" factor across the pond. For ex certain whiskies and cheeses. Any trade deal will certainly be in the UK's interest. I would guess a mutual interest.

 Now please clarify your doomsday predictions...

There is no suggestion of American’s ‘availing themselves of the NHS’, there is however evidence in statements made by the US Ambassador to the Court of St James and by Trump himself, that  the US will not offer the UK a trade deal unless the NHSis included in that deal.

 

Put simply the US will demand US pharmaceutical industry, health insurance industry and health services industries are given open access to the NHS.

 

ie the privatisation into US control of the NHS.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Unintentional quote deleted

[Chomper Higgot]

30 minutes ago, nauseus said:

That's the problem. The EU is not just a trading block. I wish it was.

Correct, it also has a court that frequently rules against and levies fines on the rapacious practices of US based corporations.

[nauseus]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Correct, it also has a court that frequently rules against and levies fines on the rapacious practices of US based corporations.

ECJ primacy is another main reason to leave.

[evadgib]

30 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There is no suggestion of American’s ‘availing themselves of the NHS’, there is however evidence in statements made by the US Ambassador to the Court of St James and by Trump himself, that  the US will not offer the UK a trade deal unless the NHSis included in that deal.

 

Put simply the US will demand US pharmaceutical industry, health insurance industry and health services industries are given open access to the NHS.

 

ie the privatisation into US control of the NHS.

Debunked in this interview from 01 July (see between 6 & 9 mins).

 

[Jonnapat]

I'm sick to death of interference from America on things which don't concern them, especially from a right wing warmonger like Bolton.

Things like this didn't happen when the US had people with integrity running the show.

[bristolboy]

16 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Debunked in this interview from 01 July (see between 6 & 9 mins).

 

And you trust him because his boss, Donald Trump, is trustworthy?

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Bizarre post. Could you explain why any trade deal with the US would a) guarantee visa-free movement of people, and the right for Americans to avail themselves of our NHS? 

 That Trump has already clarified should be of help to you 

 

 

Bizarre misunderstanding.

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Bizarre post. Could you explain why any trade deal with the US would a) guarantee visa-free movement of people, and the right for Americans to avail themselves of our NHS? 

 That Trump has already clarified should be of help to you 

 

"the US president told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I don't see it being on the table."

He added that the NHS was something he would "not consider part of trade".

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48525211

 

 You may not have noticed, but the US is a huge market, and goods produced in the UK have a high reputation for quality plus a certain "coolness" factor across the pond. For ex certain whiskies and cheeses. Any trade deal will certainly be in the UK's interest. I would guess a mutual interest.

 Now please clarify your doomsday predictions...

I did not mean Americans getting free healthcare on the NHS but that a trade agreement would include US companies having unrestricted access to NHS contracts which would be a disaster.

[Gecko123]

Brexit's not in the U.S.'s geopolitical best interests. It's Russia who stands to benefit from a weakened European Union.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

52 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Debunked in this interview from 01 July (see between 6 & 9 mins).

 

Thank you, evidence of the Ambassador and Trump attempting to walk back their statements in the face of a political pushback.