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UK-US talks to pave way for free trade agreement post-Brexit continue
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2018/11/16 08:53:52
OFFICIALS from the US-UK Trade and Investment Working Group have met for a fifth time to exchange information on trade policy issues to bolster their existing bilateral trade and investment relationship and ensure both sides are "well-prepared" to open trade negotiations after the UK leaves the European Union next year, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).
A statement released by the USTR said that during the talks held in Washington officials discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment, including through a potential future free trade agreement (FTA), reported American Shipper.
Since its formation in July 2017 the working group has been focusing on providing commercial continuity for businesses from both sides of the Atlantic and laying the groundwork for a post-Brexit US-UK FTA, USTR said.
Last month US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified US Congress of the Trump administration's intent to start FTA talks with the US after the UK leaves the EU on March 29.
The Department for International Trade collected public comments on a potential FTA with the US through October 26, and the UK government is reviewing the comments and will respond "in due course," USTR said.
USTR and UK Department for International Trade (DIT) officials led the working group that included delegations from a "wide range" of both governments' departments and agencies, USTR said.
Topics covered include industrial and agricultural goods, services and investment, digital trade, intellectual property (IP) rights, trade-related regulatory issues and small and medium-sized enterprises.
At the beginning of the month, the two countries also held the third meeting of the US-UK Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Dialogue, which focused on digital trade benefits for SMEs and e-commerce tools to promote SME exports, USTR said. The meeting was attended by 100 US and UK SME stakeholders and officials from several US and UK agencies.
A statement released by the USTR said that during the talks held in Washington officials discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment, including through a potential future free trade agreement (FTA), reported American Shipper.
Since its formation in July 2017 the working group has been focusing on providing commercial continuity for businesses from both sides of the Atlantic and laying the groundwork for a post-Brexit US-UK FTA, USTR said.
Last month US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified US Congress of the Trump administration's intent to start FTA talks with the US after the UK leaves the EU on March 29.
The Department for International Trade collected public comments on a potential FTA with the US through October 26, and the UK government is reviewing the comments and will respond "in due course," USTR said.
USTR and UK Department for International Trade (DIT) officials led the working group that included delegations from a "wide range" of both governments' departments and agencies, USTR said.
Topics covered include industrial and agricultural goods, services and investment, digital trade, intellectual property (IP) rights, trade-related regulatory issues and small and medium-sized enterprises.
At the beginning of the month, the two countries also held the third meeting of the US-UK Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Dialogue, which focused on digital trade benefits for SMEs and e-commerce tools to promote SME exports, USTR said. The meeting was attended by 100 US and UK SME stakeholders and officials from several US and UK agencies.