Officials are in talks for ‘mini-trade deals’ between UK and individual US states after Joe Biden made clear a wider post-Brexit agreement is not a priority
- UK officials have been in talks with business leaders in big states like California
- Trade minister Penny Mordaunt held talks in Tennessee, Georgia and elsewhere
- Government said there is a ‘wealth of opportunity’ on federal and national level
Ministers hope to sign ‘mini trade deals’ with individual US states after President Joe Biden made clear a wider post-Brexit agreement was not a priority.
UK officials have been in talks with governors, mayors and business leaders in economically powerful states such as California, which has a bigger economy than France.
Trade minister Penny Mordaunt has held discussions in California, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Oklahoma.
International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan is also expected to visit the US over the coming months.
Tariffs on goods can only be set under the President, but individual states can make deals in areas such as the regulation of services, which account for almost £84billion worth of UK exports to the US – 64 per cent of the total.
Trade minister Penny Mordaunt (pictured) has held discussions in California, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Oklahoma
The Department for International Trade told The Times: ‘There’s a wealth of opportunities to build even deeper ties at both a federal and state level.
‘We want to make it easier and cheaper for UK and US businesses to work together.’
Ministers believe that such agreements would result in joint ventures between British and American companies worth billions of pounds, while other agreements on service regulation would benefit insurance, accountancy, legal, architecture and engineering firms.
Advertisement
