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Donald Trump’s trade chief has said that the outgoing US administration is negotiating with the UK to secure a mini-deal that lowers trade tariffs.
Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer suggested that tariffs on Scotch whiskey could be lowered if the post-Brexit pact is successful.
The administration hopes to negotiate a full free trade deal with Trump’s successor as president, Joe Biden, but a mini-deal could facilitate trade before then.
Talks about an interim deal emerged today after the UK lifted tariffs against states for subsidies for aerospace companies.
Lighthizer told the BBC: “I’m talking to (International Trade Secretary) Liz Truss, about trying to reach some kind of agreement … I hope we can come to some kind of agreement. I don’t have much time left.
“We have the advantage that both the US and the UK, particularly the current UK government, are not big funders, where some other countries are more inclined to subsidize. So it would be helpful if we could come up with some kind of agreement. “
Scotch whiskey was badly hit when the Trump White House hit the EU with tariffs on goods worth $ 5.6 billion in retaliation for state support given to Airbus.
The EU responded with tariffs on 3 billion euros of US goods on subsidies given to Boeing, but the UK will suspend those measures from January 1 after the post-Brexit transition period ends.
Ministers hope the move will help the United States reach a reasonable settlement on the dispute between Airbus and Boeing and show that the United Kingdom is serious about achieving a negotiated outcome.
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