Boris Johnson pressures Joe Biden for a new trade deal

Washington – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made it clear to President Joe Biden on Saturday that he is ready to forge a new trade deal between the United States and Great Britain.

Pressure for a new agreement came during a phone call between the two leaders discussing several issues, including the global response to the coronavirus pandemic and the announcement by the Biden administration this week that the United States would rejoin the deal. Paris on climate change and to the World Health Organization (WHO), according to a statement by Downing Street.

A new trade deal between the allies has higher priorities for Johnson than Biden. Britain regained control of its national trade policy earlier this month after the end of the post-Brexit transition period.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday that Washington has no deadline to finalize a new trade deal, as Biden is more focused on controlling the coronavirus pandemic and urging Congress to approve an aid plan. for COVID-19 of $ 1.9 trillion.

Janett Yellen, who was proposed by Biden as Secretary of the Treasury, also pointed out during his confirmation hearing earlier this week that the US president was not keen on new trade deals.

“President Biden has made it clear that he will not sign any new trade deals until the United States has made significant investments in American workers and our infrastructure,” Yellen said.

Downing Street noted on Saturday that Biden and Johnson were “discussing the benefits of a possible free trade agreement between our two countries” and the British Prime Minister “reiterated his intention to resolve the current trade disputes as soon as possible”.

The White House said in a statement that the two leaders discussed fighting climate change, curbing COVID-19 and ensuring global health protection, as well as shared foreign policy priorities regarding China, Iran and Russia. However, he noted that the statement does not refer to trade talks.

The Johnson call was at least Biden’s third with a foreign ruler since Friday. On Friday afternoon, the president spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.