“We are going to win so much” is a staple soundbite from President Donald Trump, and also representative of his administration’s approach to international negotiations. President Trump favors bilateral trade deals and has been optimistically touting the US as the UK’s first FTA partner after Brexit. From the UK’s perspective, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also wants wins, partly due to the desire to uphold certain regulatory standards, and largely to maintain political, economic, and social security and stability post-Brexit to soften the blow of leaving the EU on the UK economy. As both countries were primed to begin negotiations, COVID-19 happened.
Join us for a virtual discussion with our transatlantic trade and policy practitioners, Frank Samolis, Matthew Kirk and George Grammas, for their insights and thoughts on the future of trade between the US and UK on May 28, 2020 at 9 a.m. EDT.
On May 5, 2020, the long-anticipated US-UK FTA discussions finally began, virtually.
Please join our transatlantic team – based in Washington, DC and London – for a round table discussion to examine the relationship between the US and UK during a historic time in our collective human history, while both countries are in negotiations with each other for a mutually important trade agreement, also in parallel, both countries are in negotiations with other trading partners, and the shifting dynamics beyond the horizon.
Topics of discussion will include:
- The outcome of the first round of talks and what’s next
- Each country’s negotiating priorities and strategies, meaningful agreements, absolute hard line, and the real-world implications, as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted or shuffled certain priorities
- Regulatory and compliance hot spots (e.g., export controls; tariffs; sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures; government procurement; and defense, national, and public security concerns, etc.)
- Balancing the relationship with China, and with each other, and how politics may influence the trade negotiations and bilateral relations going forward
- Involvement and power play in international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization
Speakers:
- Frank Samolis, partner and co-chair, International Trade Practice, Washington DC
- Matthew Kirk, international affairs advisor, Public Policy Practice, London
- Moderated by: George Grammas, partner and co-chair, International Trade Practice, Washington DC
Frank Samolis previews the discussions here:
Matthew Kirk previews the discussion here:
We hope you can join us on May 28, 2020 at 9 a.m. EDT for this dialogue.
This program is organized as part of Content Enablers’ COMPLIANCE2020 training series. Register by May 27, 2020 to receive a free 30-day trial, which can be cancelled at any time, to experience the training opportunities.
