In New York, Truss' "highlight" is to meet with
US President Biden. The United States announced that Biden and Truss will hold
talks on the 21st, and the two sides will discuss economic relations between
the two countries and the issue of Northern Ireland.
Regarding the long-delayed U.K.-U.S. free trade talks,
Truss told reporters on the plane to the U.S. that there is currently no
negotiation with the U.S., and he "does not expect to start negotiations
in the short to medium term."
The Governor of Chang'an Avenue (WeChat ID: Capitalnews)
noted that, this is the first time the British government has admitted that
there may be no chance of reaching a free trade agreement with the United
States in the next few years.
A hopeless free trade deal
In 2019, when the United Kingdom was leaving the European
Union, then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson placed great hopes on the
United States for future trade partnerships. The U.S. has also pledged to sign
a free trade agreement with the U.K. to help the U.K. mitigate the economic
impact of Brexit . At that time, Truss served as the British international
trade secretary, responsible for negotiating with the United States, and
traveled many times.
According to the original plan of the United Kingdom,
before the final "divorce" with the EU on January 1, 2021, it can
reach trade agreements with the three major economies of the United States,
China and the European Union. declaration to the European Union that
"Brexit has a lot of benefits. "symbol of.
However, people's calculations are not as good as
heaven's calculations. A sudden epidemic, coupled with the emergence of many
problems in the "Northern Ireland Protocol", agriculture and trade in
services, made the UK's expectations come to nothing in the US.
The Northern Ireland region is the only part of the UK
that borders an EU member state (Ireland), and Brexit has brought new customs
checks on Northern Irish trade, threatening to intensify tensions between the
different factions.
To this end, the "Northern Ireland Protocol"
proposes that Northern Ireland will continue to remain in the EU's customs
union, and the border inspection of British products entering the EU will be
changed between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is equivalent to
setting up a border in the UK. customs border.
In May of this year, the UK demanded to renegotiate the
Northern Ireland Protocol, otherwise it would tear up the relevant content of
the "Brexit" agreement. The move shocked Washington and brought the
U.K.-U.S. free trade talks to an impasse.
In terms of agriculture, the United States has been
seeking to completely remove or lower the barriers faced by American
agricultural products. For the United Kingdom, opening up the agricultural
product market means accepting American standards, which may affect the safety
and quality of products in the British market.
In the field of service trade, the United States wants
the United Kingdom to liberalize financial services and adopt the United
States' financial regulatory rules, which will affect the UK's influence in the
global financial market. The U.S. also wants the U.K. to liberalize the NHS
market, allowing U.S. companies to enter the U.K. drug market, which would
increase the cost of U.K. medicines…
Therefore, before going to the United States, Truss had
to play down the expectations of the British "Brexit" faction,
admitting that the agreement was beyond their ability, worrying that the
promises were given, but they could not start negotiations in the end, which
would serve as a basis for her new government. cause more damage.
Moreover, Truss admits that the UK-US free trade
agreement is hopeless in the medium and long term, and it also implies that she
intends to continue to promote the tearing up of the protocol.
It stands to reason that the trade negotiations between the
United Kingdom and the United States and the Northern Ireland Protocol between
the United Kingdom and the European Union are two different things, but the
protocol has become a point of departure for the United States to
"handle" the British government.
As soon as Truss took office, the United States
"warned" her twice.
In Biden's call with Truss, Biden discussed with him
"the importance of reaching a negotiated agreement with the EU on the
Northern Ireland Protocol." The "Financial Times" said that this
is Biden's warning against Truss not to unilaterally tear up the agreement,
suggesting that it may damage the relationship between the United Kingdom and
the United States.
Immediately after, the White House also warned the new
British government. White House press secretary Jean-Pierre said any withdrawal
of the Northern Ireland Protocol could hurt the chances of a bilateral trade
deal between the UK and the US.
Biden has personal reasons for opposing the British
government's revocation of the Northern Ireland Protocol. As early as during
the 2020 election, Biden, who is of Irish descent, stated that he would not
agree to the US-UK trade agreement if the UK's "Brexit" undermined
the "Belfast Agreement" that brought peace to Northern Ireland. .
At the same time, due to geopolitical considerations, the
United States does not want the United Kingdom to make too much trouble with
the European Union. In addition, it is not the first time that the United
States has done something to create divisions. "Northern Ireland
independence" has always been the heart of the United Kingdom. It hits the
pain points of its allies directly, and the United States has never been soft-hearted.
The Governor of Chang'an Avenue (WeChat ID: Capitalnews)
noted that, more importantly, the United States is the UK's largest trading
partner, and for every 6 pounds of British trade revenue, 1 pound comes from
the United States. And the UK doesn't even make the list of America's top three
trading partners. When it comes to trade, it's the UK that needs more than the
US.
Coupled with the absence of the "protection" of
the EU-related free trade agreement, the United Kingdom is already at a disadvantage
in the negotiations. In American style, how can it be signed without major
concessions from Britain.
Previously, British media believed that if Truss was
elected prime minister, he would launch a "charm offensive" against
Biden, so that Biden would worry less about the protocol issue. But at present,
it seems that Biden has not yet grasped the charm of Truss. The Northern
Ireland Protocol has become the "Sword of Damocles" hanging over the
UK-US trade deal.
Before "Brexit", the United Kingdom believed
that its future lay outside the EU and in the "special relationship"
between the United Kingdom and the United States. The stalled UK-US trade
negotiations after "Brexit" may become a new example of the
"special relationship" between the UK and the US is no longer
"special".
The "special relationship" between Britain and
the United States has been the principle policy of British foreign policy since
World War II. The concept has been the basis of the U.S.-British alliance since
the 1940s, when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill proposed it in
speeches.
In September last year, Truss, who just took office as
foreign secretary, questioned the "special relationship" between the
United Kingdom and the United States during their first meeting with US
Secretary of State Blinken.
The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the
matter, said Truss said she had seen few concrete examples of what was so
special about the relationship between the U.K. and the U.S., compared to the
U.S. steel tariff dispute with Canada, Japan and Canada. Trade relations with Mexico
are significantly better.
According to the report, Truss' attitude at that time was
more like asking the United States: "What have you done for me
recently?"
Once, in Johnson's view, the UK-US free trade agreement is
the US's "help in the snow" for the UK. It will help the UK to
rebuild its international status, and it will also become his own excellent
political achievement. But for the United States, this is just the "icing
on the cake", and whether to advance depends on its own interests.
Truss has made her position on the Northern Ireland
Protocol very clear, with major disagreements with Biden.
When Truss took office, it was analyzed that the
relationship between her and Biden had become tense because of Northern
Ireland. In key areas involving British national interests, Truss will not be
afraid to fight with US President Biden, who may Take a tougher stance
diplomatically.
For the United States, the status of the United Kingdom
is declining day by day, and the European Union obviously has a greater right
to speak than the United Kingdom in a series of international and regional
issues.
Charles Kupkan, the former senior director of European
affairs at the US National Security Council, believes that US government
leaders will still be in touch with the UK on some important issues, but when
the US wants to reach certain agreements, "the UK will be ranked higher. A
low position... because of Brexit, the UK has said goodbye to the negotiating
table."
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