British commerce minister visits Washington By Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – British commerce minister Kemi Badenoch will go to Washington on Monday to satisfy politicians and deal with enterprise representatives to attempt to increase ties with the USA at the same time as talks over a free commerce deal have stalled.

A U.S. free commerce deal was touted because the one of many largest prizes for Britain leaving the European Union. However hopes of a fast settlement have been dashed when the incoming Biden administration put all free commerce talks on ice.

Badenoch’s workplace mentioned she would emphasise the necessity to promote robust buying and selling alliances to problem the specter of authoritarian states. She may also say Britain and the USA ought to work collectively on points reminiscent of defending long-term vitality safety and strengthening provide chains.

“Each the UK and the U.S. know we can’t have safety at dwelling with out safety overseas, and we have to make the worldwide financial system resilient to future shocks,” Badenoch mentioned in an announcement.

The British commerce division mentioned Badenoch was as a result of meet with politicians, together with U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, and converse at a enterprise roundtable occasion.

Within the absence of a broader commerce cope with the USA, Britain has been working to safe memorandums of understanding with particular person states.

Agreements have been signed with Indiana and North Carolina earlier this yr and talks are ongoing with a number of different states together with Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.

The state-level MOUs have been criticised by the opposition Labour Celebration as being no substitute for a full U.S.-UK commerce deal.