UK Ambassador Says UK Wants Ability to Offer Flights Within US in Future FTA
When the U.S. and the United Kingdom begin talks on a free trade agreement in April next year, Sir Kim Darroch, the United Kingdom's ambassador in Washington, said he's sure that the U.S. will argue for greater access for agricultural products. He said that the UK will be asking for more government procurement access, and for British airlines to be able to fly between U.S. cities. Darroch, who was speaking at the annual Global Services Summit on Oct. 17, expressed confidence that Britain will not crash out of the European Union, but instead Brexit will follow a "shallow and reliable glide path" with a transition period from March 29 next year through Dec. 31, 2020. No U.S.-UK trade deal can be signed until the UK is out of the EU customs union.
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With regard to Trump's tariff-heavy approach to trade, Darroch was diplomatic. He said that the tariffs on steel and aluminum and on China are a disappointment, but that the agreement to enter trade talks with the EU to lower tariffs on industrial goods was encouraging. And on China, he said, "Our approach is different, but we understand why the administration is taking the approach it is." He said the UK -- and most European countries -- have problems with trade barriers inside China, weak intellectual property protections and cyber attacks coming from China aimed at stealing industrial secrets.