Before first meeting with Biden: Truss destroys hopes for trade deal with US

Before his first meeting with Biden
Truce destroys hope for US trade deal

09/20/2022, 11:09 am

A free trade agreement between the United States and Great Britain is still pending. The reason is disagreements over Northern Ireland’s deal with the EU. Just before her first visit to the United States, new British Prime Minister Liz Truss has no chance for early talks.

Great Britain is currently burying hopes of a free trade agreement with the United States. “There are currently no talks with the US and I don’t expect them to start in the short to medium term,” new Prime Minister Liz Truss told reporters on a flight to New York for the UN General Assembly. British government sources said talks were not expected to start for several years.

According to commentators, Truss’s statements were intended to prevent him from viewing his first meeting with US President Joe Biden as a failure. Truss has repeatedly announced plans to unilaterally change or scrap the deal with the EU on special Brexit rules for Northern Ireland. Biden, who has Irish roots, has repeatedly criticized the plan and threatened that a free trade deal would be too far away if it did. Truss tried to downplay the importance of the deal with the US. The Prime Minister said that trade agreements with India and Arab countries and joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP) is a priority.

Brexiteers campaigned to leave the European Union on the basis that Great Britain could more easily conclude a bilateral trade deal with the United States. Brexit and the Northern Ireland dispute will be the focus of bilateral meetings between the new prime minister, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen.

Truce pledges continued assistance to Ukraine

Truss pledged continued British support to Ukraine. The following year, he pledged at least £2.3 billion (€2.6 billion) in military aid. How much amount you will achieve this year. The government in London said the exact details would be determined “based on the needs of Ukraine’s armed forces”. Aids may include multiple rocket launchers, among others.

“My message to the people of Ukraine is that the UK will support you every step of the way. Your security is our security,” Truss said. “Ukraine’s successes over the past few weeks have been encouraging. Time and again, these brave people have shown what is possible when they defy the skeptics and give them the military, economic and political support they need.”

Britain says it has so far provided Ukraine with more than 200,000 pieces of equipment, including hundreds of missiles, 5 anti-aircraft systems, 120 armored vehicles and night vision goggles. Also, a total of 27,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained since 2015.