Britain launches post-Brexit US trade deal blitz with individual states as Joe Biden drags feet on America wide pact
BRITAIN will sign trade deals with individual US states rather than wait for Joe Biden to ink an America-wide agreement, the Sun can reveal. The radical change in policy comes after the US President dashed hopes of a swift post Brexit pact – saying it is not a priority. Instead, ministers are launching a charm […]
BRITAIN will sign trade deals with individual US states rather than wait for Joe Biden to ink an America-wide agreement, the Sun can reveal.
The radical change in policy comes after the US President dashed hopes of a swift post Brexit pact – saying it is not a priority.
Instead, ministers are launching a charm offensive on individual states like California and Indiana to get mini trade deals signed.
They reckon that by bypassing the White House they can get multi billion pound deals inked at lightning-quick speed.
A Department for International Trade insider told the Sun: “From York to New York, Birmingham in the Midlands to Birmingham Alabama – we want to turbo boost UK and US businesses
“When you look at the numbers, the wins on offer by bagging trade agreements with individual states are massive. “California’s economy alone is larger than the economy of the whole of France.”
Government sources insist they have not given up hope of signing a US wide trade deal, but recognise it may take some time.
Eager for progress, they are adopting a new ‘twin track’ approach to US trade.
International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has sent her deputy Penny Mordaunt across the pond to chat up American states interested in doing deals.
She spoke with governors, mayors and business leaders in California, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma and South Carolina in her whistle stop tour.
The government reckons they can secure a multi billion pound boost to UK businesses and slash costs for consumers by netting a string of mini trade deals.
California has a bigger economy than France, at a staggering £2.3trillion.
While Texas and New York both have bigger economies than Canada and Spain.