US, Brits move to cement new trade deal

Washington Examiner:

Washington officials hope to tie London into a trade deal that would make it harder for China to extend its influence as the United Kingdom and the United States begin talks on Tuesday.

Boris Johnson’s government has made no secret of its desire for rapid trade deals as the U.K. finds a new place in the world after leaving the European Union.

And as tensions rise with China and with months of economic gloom ahead, officials in Washington see an opportunity to score a win over Beijing’s expansionism.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office says it wants to be able under the deal to act if the U.K. strikes free trade deals with “non-market countries,” restricting London’s ability to negotiate with Beijing.

A former administration official familiar with current thinking said the coronavirus crisis made it more important than ever to secure trade deals and build a united front against China.

“It’s clear that China is more determined than ever to move Europe into its column,” he said.

“A trade agreement with the United Kingdom, locking in trade relations, would serve as the tip of the spear in pushing back China’s attempts to co-opt Europe.”
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Washington wants Britain to drop regulations on imports of food and agricultural products and provide full market access for American pharmaceutical products, both of which could be politically difficult among Britons who fear a reduction in food safety standards and a squeezing of their public healthcare system.
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There is more.

This would be a win-win deal for both.  The Brits get a better trading partner than they had with the EU and the US gets a bilateral agreement of the type Trump just negotiated with Canada and Mexico which would exclude deals with Chimcom owned companies.  The Brits might have to restrain some of their control freak policies leftover from their time in the EU.