U.S.-British trade pact won't pass Congress if Good Friday deal harmed - Pelosi

[webfact]

U.S.-British trade pact won't pass Congress if Good Friday deal harmed - Pelosi

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi smiles during a news conference in San Salvador, El Salvador, August 9, 2019. REUTERS/Jessica Orellana

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There is no chance the U.S. Congress would approve a planned U.S.-British trade deal if Britain's exit from the European Union undermines the landmark 1998 Good Friday peace agreement for Northern Ireland, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is negotiating a free trade deal with Britain that would go into effect after it completes Brexit, now scheduled for Oct. 31. Any U.S.-British trade agreement would have to pass the U.S. Congress.

 

The Good Friday agreement, which helped end three decades of violence in Northern Ireland, dismantled all physical border infrastructure between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, a province of Britain, guaranteeing that people and goods on either side can move freely.

 

"Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the Good Friday Agreement, including the seamless border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland," Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, said in a statement.

 

"If Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be no chance of a U.S.-UK trade agreement passing the Congress," Pelosi added.

 

Congress is split between Democrats, who control the House, and Trump's fellow Republicans, who control the Senate.

 

An impasse with the EU leaves Britain facing the possibility of an exit without any formal transition period or legal agreement covering issues such as trade, data transfers and border policy.

 

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton, visiting London this week, said Washington would enthusiastically support a no-deal Brexit if that is what Britain's government decided to do, and that a trade deal with the United States would help cushion the blow of Britain's departure.

 

During a visit aimed at reassuring Britain over British-U.S. ties, Bolton told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that Trump wants to see a successful Brexit and that Washington would be ready to work quickly on a trade pact.

 

Many in Ireland believe a no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic for the Good Friday agreement.

 

Of particular concern is what to do about the so-called backstop insurance policy in the previous deal negotiated by Johnson's predecessor as prime minister, Theresa May, to prevent the return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

 

May's proposal, rejected three times by the British parliament, would force Britain to obey some EU rules if no other way could be found to keep the land border open.

 

Bolton said during his London visit there was "zero chance" that a no-deal Brexit would undermine the accord.

 

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-15

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[TopDeadSenter]

Makes you wonder whether Ms Pelosi has been receiving funding from ne'er do wells in the Boston area. Funny how the IRA were allowed to openly fund raise for all those years. Interesting to give this tree a good shake and see what falls out. Great timing too, coming up to the crucial 2020 election.

[OneMoreFarang]

I am sure Boris will tell the US that he doesn't need them. Like he does not need the EU. No Deal! Do or die!

And maybe he should tell China to stay away from HK, I am sure that will help to have a great future with them.

Take control and make the UK great again, or something like that. Remind me, when was the last time Great Britain was great? 

[bristolboy]

42 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Makes you wonder whether Ms Pelosi has been receiving funding from ne'er do wells in the Boston area. Funny how the IRA were allowed to openly fund raise for all those years. Interesting to give this tree a good shake and see what falls out. Great timing too, coming up to the crucial 2020 election.

Those ne'er do wells who support an agreement that has virtually eliminated the violence that plagued Northern Ireland? 

Makes me wonder whether you gave your thought on the subject any serious vetting before you posted it.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Pelosi’s motivations go beyond support for Eire and listening to the Irish American lobby/vote.

 

The long-standing US position has been to support the EU, European integration and EU expansion eastwards as a political, economic and military counter balance to Russia.  

 

Meanwhile Russia (read Putin) is for the counter reasons to those of the US, acting to break up the EU.

 

Trump’s actions wrt to the EU and Brexit are in lock step with Putin’s objectives.

 

Pelosi May indeed be responding to the Irish American lobby/vote, she absolutely is throwing a spanner into Trump pandering to Putin’s EU objectives.

 

Of course it wouldn’t matter if U.K. were not putting itself in the position of being desperate for a deal.

 

 

[evadgib]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I am sure Boris will tell the US that he doesn't need them. Like he does not need the EU. No Deal! Do or die!

And maybe he should tell China to stay away from HK, I am sure that will help to have a great future with them.

Take control and make the UK great again, or something like that. Remind me, when was the last time Great Britain was great? 

When will....

(I'll be doing the hornpipe all day )

 

[cooked]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Pelosi’s motivations go beyond support for Eire and listening to the Irish American lobby/vote.

 

The long-standing US position has been to support the EU, European integration and EU expansion eastwards as a political, economic and military counter balance to Russia.  

 

Meanwhile Russia (read Putin) is for the counter reasons to those of the US, acting to break up the EU.

 

Trump’s actions wrt to the EU and Brexit are in lock step with Putin’s objectives.

 

Pelosi May indeed be responding to the Irish American lobby/vote, she absolutely is throwing a spanner into Trump pandering to Putin’s EU objectives.

 

Of course it wouldn’t matter if U.K. were not putting itself in the position of being desperate for a deal.

 

 

The EU's interference in the Ukraine, including numerous false flag operations, have only further made cooperation with Russia impractical. We can only congratulate the EU for forcing Russia to become independent of many European imports and to rely on themselves and CHINA. Russia looks like an enemy to some people because that's what they are told. 

This may give a different perspective on the "Russian threat"... Trump is concentrating on the Chinese threat, time will tell if he succeeds.

[Basil B]

So the Brexit lifeboat has holes in it...

 

[sfokevin]

5 minutes ago, Basil B said:

So the Brexit lifeboat has holes in it...

 

More like Boris is rearranging the deck chairs on Brexit...

[Joe Mcseismic]

4 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Makes you wonder whether Ms Pelosi has been receiving funding from ne'er do wells in the Boston area. Funny how the IRA were allowed to openly fund raise for all those years. Interesting to give this tree a good shake and see what falls out. Great timing too, coming up to the crucial 2020 election.

Yup. The US refused to label the IRA a terrorist organization.

It took 911 to finally convince them that organizations that murder others should not be allowed to collect funds in their country.

[bristolboy]

3 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

Yup. The US refused to label the IRA a terrorist organization.

It took 911 to finally convince them that organizations that murder others should not be allowed to collect funds in their country.

And what has that got to do with Pelosi's position on the GFA & Brexit?

[Joe Mcseismic]

2 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

And what has that got to do with Pelosi's position on the GFA & Brexit?

Nothing really.......I suppose. Was just expanding on a point made by Topdeadcenter.

[Basil B]

8 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

More like Boris is rearranging the deck chairs on Brexit...

So what type of Captain?

Titanic or Costa Concordia?

[bristolboy]

Just now, Basil B said:

So what type of Captain?

Titanic or Costa Concordia?

I don't think either of those 2 captains deliberately sank their ships.

[Joe Mcseismic]

3 minutes ago, Basil B said:

So what type of Captain?

Titanic or Costa Concordia?

Graf Spee, but, Boris won't commit suicide.

[Basil B]

1 minute ago, bristolboy said:

I don't think either of those 2 captains deliberately sank their ships.

Both were reckless, but at least one went down with his ship, am unsure if Boris is deliberately scuttling Britannia, just a reckless buffoon.   

[zydeco]

35 minutes ago, cooked said:

The EU's interference in the Ukraine, including numerous false flag operations, have only further made cooperation with Russia impractical. We can only congratulate the EU for forcing Russia to become independent of many European imports and to rely on themselves and CHINA. Russia looks like an enemy to some people because that's what they are told. 

 

Yes, Russia and China are benevolent, kind, altruistic, and enlightened. May their principles spread the shadow of totalitarianism throughout the world! An appealing future where everyone is tagged, processed, and reeducated according to the circumstances. And where political opponents are murdered or "disappeared." 

[cooked]

43 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Yes, Russia and China are benevolent, kind, altruistic, and enlightened. May their principles spread the shadow of totalitarianism throughout the world! An appealing future where everyone is tagged, processed, and reeducated according to the circumstances. And where political opponents are murdered or "disappeared." 

That's a description that would fit many countries, including the UK and US. 

[Jingthing]

Good on Pelosi for her backbone opposing the insanity of a no deal Brexit! You might say it's none of her business. OK. Then it's none of 45's business either shilling for a no deal Brexit.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[evadgib]

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Good on Pelosi for her backbone opposing the insanity of a no deal Brexit! You might say it's none of her business. OK. Then it's none of 45's business either shilling for a no deal Brexit.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

45 wot?

[robertson468]

The word is that Pelosi has brought this up, not so much to influence UK Brexit, but to score points against Trump in the coming Americal Elections.  The fall out from her interference, again is thought to be NIL.

[Laughing Gravy]

35 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Good on Pelosi for her backbone opposing the insanity of a no deal Brexit! You might say it's none of her business. OK. Then it's none of 45's business either shilling for a no deal Brexit.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Well done an American telling the UK what they should do. Also well done for you being non British telling the UK what to do. And people wonder why the UK is leaving the EU.

 

I don't listen to what she has to say. Who ever breaks the Good Friday Agreement (not that any one would) will have no public support and would be condemned internationally and locally.

Maybe Pelosi just likes to ensure that the campaign to fund IRA terrorism starts up again.

[evadgib]

52 minutes ago, evadgib said:

45 wot?

Ahhh, That 45!

(I couldn't see it using a phone ???? )

[hhinhh]

Make UK great again ????????????

[sfokevin]

3 hours ago, bristolboy said:

I don't think either of those 2 captains deliberately sank their ships.

Boris has more of a Captain Ahab management style... 

[sawadee1947]

Well. Irish got a good effective activ lobby. Thank God. ????

[jany123]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S.-British trade pact won't pass Congress if Good Friday deal harmed - Pelosi

Or in clear terms.... trust the lying trump administrations promise of trade support at your peril.

 

 

[sawadee1947]

5 hours ago, evadgib said:

When will....

(I'll be doing the hornpipe all day )

 

Do you know how the lemings end up? 

[Bluespunk]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

There is no chance the U.S. Congress would approve a planned U.S.-British trade deal if Britain's exit from the European Union undermines the landmark 1998 Good Friday peace agreement for Northern Ireland, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday.

Splat. 

 

A bit of reality just hit the no dealer fan. 

[bristolboy]

2 hours ago, robertson468 said:

The word is that Pelosi has brought this up, not so much to influence UK Brexit, but to score points against Trump in the coming Americal Elections.  The fall out from her interference, again is thought to be NIL.

No attribution, just "The word is.."? What this means is that you're just making stuff up and trying to give it an air of authority by making it sound as though there's some sort of consensus about it.