Trade discussions got underway virtually Tuesday between the United States and United Kingdom via a video conference. That’s 18 months after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress of the intent to begin talks with the United Kingdom. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says it’s positive those discussions have begun.
He says it’s positive that both the U.K. and U.S. want to upgrade their food and safety standards and hopefully both can agree to something both countries will follow.
VanderWal says the U.S. needs to build on each trade agreement they reach and use the success of those in forging new deals including a possible pact with the United Kingdom.
Trade Representative Lighthizer says the biggest sticking points in any possible US UK deal being agriculture and health care shouldn’t stand in the way of reaching a deal in 2020.
