UK-US trade negotiations

The Government has made agreeing a comprehensive free trade agreement (“FTA”) with the US an early priority for the UK’s independent trade policy. The US is the UK’s largest bilateral trading partner and largest export market outside of the EU. Trade negotiations between the UK and US were officially launched on Tuesday 5 May 2020. The UK-US trade deal is the first major, wholly new agreement pursued by a post-Brexit UK, and this inquiry will focus on the Government’s aims and objectives, the progress of negotiations, and the possible impacts of a final deal for people and businesses across the UK. In June and July 2020, the inquiry focused on agriculture and food, healthcare and drug pricing, and digital trade and services. The Committee wrote to the Secretary of State about these issues and others raised in evidence on 31 July. In the autumn, the Committee expects to focus on the environment and climate change, intellectual property, and regulation and standards. It is not yet known when the talks will conclude, but this inquiry will run for their duration.