Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
November 5, 2021 | Press Releases
LONDON, ENGLAND – Today, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) met with the U.K. chief trade negotiator, members of British Parliament, and members of the British-American business community to discuss efforts to strengthen the trade relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom, particularly the prospects for a U.S.-U.K. bilateral trade agreement.
“The United Kingdom is a critical ally and strategic partner and I appreciated the opportunity to discuss our shared goals of bolstering our economic ties with the U.K.,” said Portman. “I strongly support pursuing a bilateral trade agreement between our two countries. I have long worked with my colleagues in Congress to build support for this mutually beneficial agreement, and will continue to do so, because I know such an agreement will strengthen not only our special economic partnership, but also our security alliance.”
Senator Portman began his day by meeting with Crawford Falconer, Chief Trade Negotiation Advisor for the British government. The two discussed the prospects for a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation on steel overcapacity, and unfair trade challenges posed by China, reform proposals and the future of the World Trade Organization, and the U.K.’s ambitious post-Brexit trade agenda.
Senator Portman then attended a working lunch with the members of Parliament hosted by British-American Parliamentary Group, where the group discussed bilateral trade issues, including the economic and geo-strategic rationale for a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement.
Senator Portman concluded the day by meeting with the BritishAmerican Business, a leading transatlantic business organization, dedicated to helping its member companies build business on both sides of the Atlantic through high-level connections, insights and shared purpose. The group discussed US export opportunities in financial services, digital trade, and manufactured goods.
NOTE: Senator Portman is co-founder and co-chair of the U.K. Trade Caucus in the Senate, aimed at promoting close and long-lasting economic ties between the U.S. and the U.K. by building congressional support for a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.
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