Britain vows to drive hard bargain in U.S. trade talks

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street in London, Britain, February 26, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned he would drive a hard bargain with the United States in upcoming trade talks as the government sets out its negotiating position on Monday.

 

Britain's ambition for its own trade deal with the United States is a crucial part of its strategy to restructure its economy and find a new global role having left the European Union in January - the biggest change to British foreign and trade policy since World War Two.

 

"We have the best negotiators in the business and of course, we’re going to drive a hard bargain to boost British industry," Johnson said. "Most importantly, this transatlantic trade deal will reflect the unique closeness of our two great nations."

 

The government said its analysis showed a deal with the U.S. would boost transatlantic trade by 15.3 billion pounds ($19.61 billion), and add 3.4 billion pounds to the British economy. Britain's overall economy is worth around $2.7 trillion.

 

The United States is currently Britain’s biggest trading partner after the EU, accounting for nearly 19% of all its exports in 2018 and 11% of imports. By comparison, the EU, with which Britain begins talks on future relations on Monday, accounted for 45% of all UK exports and 53% of UK imports.

 

The government said manufacturers of cars, ceramics, food and drink, and professional services including architects and lawyers would be among the biggest winners from the trade deal.

 

"Trading Scottish smoked salmon for Stetson hats, we will deliver lower prices and more choice for our shoppers," Johnson said.  

 

Both sides hope a deal can be reached as soon as this year but there are many hurdles.

 

The government reiterated that its National Health Service (NHS) was "not for sale" - addressing criticism that a deal could let private U.S. healthcare providers into Britain's state-funded health system. It also vowed to uphold high standards on food safety and animal welfare, which critics say are not as high in the United States.

 

The U.S. negotiating objectives published last year include pressing for full market access for U.S. pharmaceutical products and medical devices, which would require changes to the NHS pricing restrictions and could increase the cost of drugs.

 

It is also seeking a removal of non-tariff barriers such as curbs on chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated meat.

 

Britain’s Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser, Crawford Falconer, who previously worked as New Zealand’s chief negotiator, will represent the government in the talks.

 

Britain also plans to begin negotiating deals with the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand in the coming months, alongside talks with the EU on future relations.

 

The government said its aim is to have 80% of external trade covered by free trade agreements by 2022.  

 

($1 = 0.7800 pounds)

 

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by William James and Mark Heinrich)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-02

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with trump at the helm, no fear on either side. sorry

Does anybody in the UK still believes that drivel?

Which part about "size matters" don't they understand? 

Boris and Donald should win the greatest country leaders hair awards.

Trump won't cave to anything and British is stuck as a lone wolf now doubt they will have much bark in these negotiations.  

 

Edited March 2, 20206 yr by bkk6060

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Does anybody in the UK still believes that drivel?

Which part about "size matters" don't they understand? 

yes size matters. don't eff around with the biggest then. go putin.

 

no I was being sarcastic about a BS post, honest...

Yes, should be easy, the UK holds all the cards ????????????

well, best of luck anyway, i feel that the britts has had a long uphill road for a long time.

 

5 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

well, best of luck anyway, i feel that the britts has had a long uphill road for a long time.

 

Its Brits or better still The United Kingdom

So the size of the US economy is a bit over $20trillion. The EU economy is a tad under $20trillion.

 

If certain TV pundits are to believed, the UK is going to walk all over the EU, call their bluff, etc etc. 
 

I’m waiting expectedly for the same brave words with these US negotiations.

Here’s your chief negotiator. From the daily fail, in case people accuse me of bias..

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7268655/380-000-trade-negotiator-struck-single-deal.html

The US has already told the U.K. that it, the US, will dictate UK taxation of online companies, regulation of medicine prices and the sell off of the NHS.

Racist comment removed

Surely the United States will crumble when faced with the intellectual might of Johnson. 

17 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The US has already told the U.K. that it, the US, will dictate UK taxation of online companies, regulation of medicine prices and the sell off of the NHS.

That was part of project fear and as we all know now simply isn't true.

To put this in context

The government analysis expects a US trade deal to add 3.4 billion to the UK economy.

The current expenditure on the NHS is 130 billion

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Yes, should be easy, the UK holds all the cards ????????????

The US need the Uk more than the UK needs them... 555

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Did you ever comment about politics in Thailand or anywhere else in this world?

If yes, then why are others not allowed to do the same about the UK?

And if no, why not? Because there is a lot to learn from other nations. We can learn what they do right and we can learn what they do wrong. Maybe try it.

Hardcore nationalists learning from others? God forbid!
 

They just prefer their own echo chambers and brand anyone who disagrees with them as anti-British, or a ‘traitor’ if they happen to be british. 

I very much look forward to reaching a fair, sensible trade deal with the US, it will certainly be easier than arranging something with the spiteful, vindictive, intransigent EU bureaucrats.

 

And let's face it, whatever we agree will be better than what the EU was (un)able to agree with the US.

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I very much look forward to reaching a fair, sensible trade deal with the US,

And who do you think will agree to this fair, sensible trade deal? Donald and Boris? 555

HMG in their own words:

 

Liz Truss kick-starts UK-US trade talks

6 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I very much look forward to reaching a fair, sensible trade deal with the US, it will certainly be easier than arranging something with the spiteful, vindictive, intransigent EU bureaucrats.

 

And let's face it, whatever we agree will be better than what the EU was (un)able to agree with the US.

The objective from the UK side is surely to add value to its economy from any future trade deal.

Considering that the US is supposed to be an economic powerhouse , the UK government own analysis of the benefits from the US UK fta does not look good ( less than 1 %) from the UK. Perspective.

 

 

If Boris plays hardball here come the tariffs. As an American living in the USA I can't think of a single British product I use. 

14 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

If Boris plays hardball here come the tariffs. As an American living in the USA I can't think of a single British product I use. 

And that's why the USA has a closed mind to anything healthy. Follow their SAD diet and welcome an early death by heart attack, stokes or cancer. Which is the reality of this over-obese nation.

26 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And who do you think will agree to this fair, sensible trade deal? Donald and Boris? 555

Yes, since they are the Democratically elected leaders I would expect them to make the final decision on behalf of their respective sovereign nations. That's how it works outside the EU.  

 

 

13 minutes ago, stephenterry said:

And that's why the USA has a closed mind to anything healthy. Follow their SAD diet and welcome an early death by heart attack, stokes or cancer. Which is the reality of this over-obese nation.

 

It's hard to find chips lathered in Bisto, toast fried in lard, and if you do we have the sense to not use public money and bankrupt ourselves in order to keep you shopping at Walmart on your fat cart. My husband is British lives here with me now. 

 

We could have settled in the UK or here in the USA. If you are even a halfwit in the USA you can own a home, eat well and take care of yourself. Not just some row house but a really nice place. 

 

They sell healthy Bisto on Amazon here for something like $15. I remember when I did business in Laos and was at a British friend's guesthouse. A bunch of gap year kids walked in saw Bisto on the menu. They said "wow proper gravy." 

 

The UK is so lovely I can only presume you reside elsewhere now?

 

Edited March 2, 20206 yr by Cryingdick

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

38 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And who do you think will agree to this fair, sensible trade deal? Donald and Boris? 555

Yes, since they are the Democratically elected leaders I would expect them to make the final decision on behalf of their respective sovereign nations. That's how it works outside the EU.  

Yes, they are democratically elected.

But what gives you the idea that Boris and Donald will make fair and sensible decisions on behalf of their sovereign nations?

Who will explain the words fair and sensible to them? And how high is the chance that they will understand the meaning of those words?

"We have the best negotiators in the business and of course, we’re going to drive a hard bargain to boost British industry," Johnson said. "Most importantly, this transatlantic trade deal will reflect the unique closeness of our two great nations."

 

Well, by comparison the US will send in their B team, as usual. And if Trump gets involved, the UK will get over on the US just like any other nation that has had dealings with the US in the past three years. Think Xi, Kim, MBS, Putin, and so many others. Trump literally could not negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He did negotiate his way into five bankruptcies, and is a mediocre businessman at best, and the 44th greatest president the US has ever had. 

 

I do hope Boris gives them a very hard time. They deserve it. They are beyond hapless and incompetent.

18 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

"We have the best negotiators in the business and of course, we’re going to drive a hard bargain to boost British industry," Johnson said. "Most importantly, this transatlantic trade deal will reflect the unique closeness of our two great nations."

 

Well, by comparison the US will send in their B team, as usual. And if Trump gets involved, the UK will get over on the US just like any other nation that has had dealings with the US in the past three years. Think Xi, Kim, MBS, Putin, and so many others. Trump literally could not negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He did negotiate his way into five bankruptcies, and is a mediocre businessman at best, and the 44th greatest president the US has ever had. 

 

I do hope Boris gives them a very hard time. They deserve it. They are beyond hapless and incompetent.

On which team is Boris? Maybe the C team on a good day?

The problem with the British government  is that they are desparate to get any trade deal so that they can show their brave citizens that something is happening. Imagine if one day those citizens will realize that the EU was the best deal they could possibly get - Boris government can't allow that to happen.

29 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

On which team is Boris? Maybe the C team on a good day?

The problem with the British government  is that they are desparate to get any trade deal so that they can show their brave citizens that something is happening. Imagine if one day those citizens will realize that the EU was the best deal they could possibly get - Boris government can't allow that to happen.

 

The USA and the Uk should make a deal. It could be a very good one. I am having a hard time figuring out how a small island nation that offers "financial services" offers the USA. 

 

We already have enough Schwabs, Bloombergs and tawT flannel Inc. of our own. Any deal made by definition would favor Britain because I don't see what they bring to the table. That's okay the British are strong allies and a new deal would change things.

 

The idea of the Brits playing hardball is simply a fantasy.

Edited March 2, 20206 yr by Cryingdick

1 hour ago, Cryingdick said:

If Boris plays hardball here come the tariffs. As an American living in the USA I can't think of a single British product I use. 

Watch for the avalanche of super bendy bananas coming your way. Oh and jellied eels. Lots and lots of jellied eels.