Britain to sign first mini-trade deal with US in just two weeks’ time
BRITAIN will sign its first mini-trade deal with the US in just two weeks’ time, The Sun can reveal.
Trade chief Anne Marie Trevelyn is putting the finishing touches on a landmark agreement with Indiana, which will see red tape slashed and jobs boosted.
And she’s on track to sign another SIX mini-deals with other US states by the end of the year.
The mid-Western state is the eighth-largest exporter in the US and is known for selling its maize, soybeans and tomatoes.
The state already buys $1.4 billion worth of goods from the UK every year – and the UK is its seventh-largest export market.
Ministers hope the deal will boost jobs, investment and the sharing of services and green technology.
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US President Joe Biden has dashed hopes of a nation-wide swift post-Brexit pact for the moment – saying it is not a priority for him.
But discussions are continuing in the background while they draw up the framework for a longer-term deal.
Ms Trevelyan told The Sun: “State-by-state we are doing all sorts.
“We’ve got some really good discussions going on. Watch this space.
“The US big-picture deal is important and we’ll get there when the White House has the view that they have got their domestic situation, and they want to look out again.
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“In the meantime, there’s loads that businesses would like us to try and sort out in terms of market access barriers.
“Governors have got authority over a number of things and they are really keen to do more business with us.
“Let’s crack on with that. We’re doing both.”