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Boris & Biden meet, but trade talks get downplayed
US President Joe Biden has played down the chances of new trade deal with the UK after holding talks with British PM Boris Johnson
Downing Street has stood firm on its hopes to signal a deal between the United States, alone.
However recent reports stating that UK ministers are now considering joining an existing North American trade pact instead of pursuing a separate deal, after some trade talks were downplayed.
The two leaders also discussed Northern Ireland, climate change and Afghanistan during the 90-minute meeting
The UK Government stated that Johnson and Biden “had agreed to continue working towards a future full free trade agreement”
However, Mr Johnson had earlier also downplayed chances of securing a deal with the US before the next general election, stating that: “The Americans do negotiate very hard.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Joe Biden stated that the two would discuss trade “a little bit”, adding: “We’re going to have to work that through.”
A new deal between the two nations would encourage trade by making it cheaper – usually by reducing or eliminating taxes, called tariffs.