On January 27, 2025, L. Daniel Mullaney from the Atlantic Council discussed the potential for a comprehensive US-UK trade and investment agreement, particularly in the wake of President Donald Trump's America First Trade Policy executive order. The trade relationship between the US and UK was significant, with a total goods and services trade amounting to $295.6 billion in 2022. Mullaney outlined that any future agreement should be built on three key pillars: establishing guardrails for sensitive sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, ensuring regulatory compatibility to facilitate trade without unnecessary barriers, and coordinating on policies related to nonmarket economies. [3b7c1498]
The UK, having recently navigated its exit from the European Union, is positioned as a valuable partner for the US in the post-Brexit landscape. Previous negotiations for a trade agreement had been stalled due to political changes, but the current climate presents an opportunity to revive these discussions. Mullaney emphasized that a US-UK agreement could not only enhance trade and investment but also address shared challenges faced by both economies. [3b7c1498]