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UK trade-hopeful following talks with top Republican congress leaders

Tuesday, January 10th 2017 - 09:20 UTC
Full article 7 comments
“We hear we are first in line to do a great free trade deal with the United States. So, it's going to be a very exciting year for both our countries,” said Johnson. “We hear we are first in line to do a great free trade deal with the United States. So, it's going to be a very exciting year for both our countries,” said Johnson.
The meeting with Boris Johnson included Senator Corker, House speaker Paul Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. The meeting with Boris Johnson included Senator Corker, House speaker Paul Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.

Britain will be in the “front seat” to negotiate a new trade deal with the incoming Trump administration, a top Republican in the US Senate has said. A US-UK trade deal would be a priority, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker said after meeting Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

 Barack Obama warned in April that the UK would be at the back of the queue for trade deals if voters chose Brexit. Johnson has been meeting with top Republicans on Capitol Hill.

“We hear we are first in line to do a great free trade deal with the United States. So, it's going to be a very exciting year for both our countries,” he said.

Those meeting with the foreign secretary included House speaker Paul Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. He travelled to Washington after meeting with Mr. Trump's senior advisers in New York.

A Foreign Office source told the BBC the talks in Washington saw “seriously positive” discussions on the prospects for a future US-UK trade deal.

Corker Senator Corker said Mr. Johnson knows “full well” that “there is no way the United Kingdom is going to take a back seat”.

“They will take a front seat and I think it will be our priority to make sure that we deal with them on a trade agreement initially but in all respects in a way that demonstrates the long-term friendship that we've had for so long,” he said.

The senator, who had been a leading candidate for secretary of state, said he was sure Mr. Trump would agree with him.

Boris Johnson will not meet Mr. Trump's choice for top diplomat, Rex Tillerson, while in Washington. Protocol dictates that cannot happen until the businessman is confirmed as secretary of state.

Earlier, in New York, the foreign secretary met with Mr. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who will serve as a senior adviser in the White House, and his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.

Top Comments

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  • Britworker

    Funny, I didn't hear Trump say he wanted to do a great trade deal with Argentina, come to think of it, i'm not sure I've heard anyone say that. You see the world knows that relative sanity is only temporary in Argentina, Macri will go and then it will be psycho central again and all the investors lose their money. Theresa May is playing this one very cool, she will have Trump eating out of her hand and after she gets everything she wants from him, she will start her negotiations with the EU from a very strong position.

    Lastly, I think most Brits see themselves far more aligned with the US than the EU, I would be happy for us to link up economically, militarily and politically.

    Jan 10th, 2017 - 06:20 pm +2
  • Voice

    Yay...51st State...it's what Boris always wanted...

    Jan 10th, 2017 - 02:58 pm 0
  • DemonTree

    @Hepatia
    I though you said the UK was a US vassal state? Can't you at least get your story straight?

    Jan 11th, 2017 - 10:56 pm 0
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