The UK and US governments will today (Tuesday 5 May) start
negotiating a UK-US Free Trade Agreement.
The International Trade Secretary and the US Trade Representative
Robert Lighthizer are launching negotiations via video conference
call.
This first round of negotiations will last for approximately 2
weeks and will involve around 100 negotiators on each side.
On the UK side, talks will be led by Oliver Griffiths, with all
UK trade negotiations being overseen by Crawford Falconer, DIT’s
Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser, formerly New Zealand’s Chief
Negotiator and Ambassador to the WTO.
Talks will cover all areas set out in the UK’s negotiation
objectives, including goods and services trade, digital trade,
investment and supporting SMEs.
Further rounds will take place approximately every 6 weeks and
will be carried out remotely until it is safe to travel.
This common-sense approach to negotiations will ensure that talks
can progress during the COVID-19 pandemic, while public health
and social distancing measures can continue to be respected.
International Trade Secretary said:
The US is our largest trading partner and increasing
transatlantic trade can help our economies bounce back from the
economic challenge posed by Coronavirus.
We want to strike an ambitious deal that opens up new
opportunities for our businesses, brings in more investment and
creates better jobs for people across the whole of the country.
The Prime Minister has been clear that we champion free trade
and this deal will make it even easier to do business with our
friends across the pond.
As we sit down at the negotiating table today be assured that
we will we will drive a hard bargain to secure a deal that
benefits individuals and businesses in every region and nation
of the UK.
Both negotiating teams have already laid the groundwork for an
ambitious agreement through the UK-US Trade and Investment
Working Group, which has met six times in the lead up to the
talks. They have discussed the full suite of topics typically
included in FTAs – allowing talks to quickly get underway.
Government analysis shows a UK-US FTA will benefit every region
and nation of the UK, with the greatest benefits in Scotland, the
North East and the Midlands. It will also include a dedicated
chapter to help the UK’s 5.9 million small businesses.
The UK’s negotiating objectives make clear that any future
agreement must protect our NHS and we will continue uphold our
high standards on food safety and animal welfare.
The government is committed to a transparent approach to trade
negotiations and we will publish a summary of the first round
once it has concluded.
Notes to editors
The Department for International Trade published the UK
government’s negotiation objectives on 2 March 2020.
