Before his first meeting with Biden
Truce destroys US trade deal hopes

09/20/2022, 11:09 am

A free trade agreement between the US and Great Britain is still on hold. The reason is disagreements over Northern Ireland’s agreement with the EU. On the eve of her first visit to the US, new British Prime Minister Liz Truss sees no chance of early talks.

Great Britain is burying hopes of a free trade deal with the USA for the time being. “There are currently no talks with America 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’ statements were intended to prevent her first meeting with US President Joe Biden from being seen as a failure. The Truss has repeatedly announced it will unilaterally change or cancel 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 he did so. Truss tried to downplay the importance of the deal with the US. The head of government said that trade agreements with India and Arab countries and accession to the Pacific Trade Agreement (CPTTP) are a priority.

Brexiteers had campaigned to leave the EU on the grounds that Great Britain would be able to more easily end a bilateral trade deal with the USA. Brexit and the Northern Ireland dispute are likely to focus on bilateral meetings between the new prime minister, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Truss continued to offer aid to Ukraine

Truss also promised continued British support for Ukraine. For the next year, she pledged at least 2.3 billion pounds (2.6 billion euros) in military aid. You will reach at least the same amount this year. The exact details will be determined “based on the needs of Ukraine’s armed forces,” the government said in London. Aids may include multiple rocket launchers.

“My message to the people of Ukraine is that the UK will stand behind you every step of the way. Your security is our security,” Truss said in a statement. “Ukraine’s successes over the past few weeks have been inspiring. Time and again these brave people have defied the doubters and shown what is possible when given the military, financial and political support they need.”

Britain says it has so far delivered hundreds of missiles, 5 anti-aircraft systems, 120 armored vehicles and 200,000 pieces of equipment such as night vision goggles to Ukraine. In addition, a total of 27,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained since 2015.