PM says he’ll ship for Britain as he heads to US to satisfy Joe Biden
Rishi Sunak has spoken of his “close and candid relationship” with US President Joe Biden as he prepares for a trade-boosting go to to Washington.
The Prime Minister will journey to the US on Wednesday for talks with the President in addition to members of Congress and enterprise leaders.
It would be the fourth time the 2 statesmen have met in as many months.
The Prime Minister swept apart recommendations that the connection between the 2 nations is cooling after critics accused President Biden of “snubbing” the UK by failing to attend the King’s coronation final month.
Mr Sunak mentioned: “The US is our closest ally. We are one another’s partner of first resort when it comes to everything from keeping our people safe to growing our economies.
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“That’s why it is so important for a UK prime minister to forge a close and candid relationship with the president of the United States. On every global problem, you will see us working side by side.
“I’m looking forward to seeing President Biden later this week to continue those efforts and to deliver for the British people.”
On Thursday, Mr Sunak will turn out to be the primary British prime minister to deal with an annual gathering of chief executives from America’s greatest firms, often known as the Business Roundtable. He will spotlight the contribution made by their firms to the UK’s £279billion commerce relationship with the US.
The PM can be set to attend a particular Washington Nationals baseball sport which can contain a joint UK-US army flyover, ceremonial army performances by the Royal Marines Corps of Drums and the Washington Tattoo, and the singing of the UK and US nationwide anthems.
Mr Sunak might be joined on the sport by US enterprise leaders and political figures with shut hyperlinks to the UK.
Downing Street says the go to might be a possibility to strengthen the buying and selling relationship between the 2 international locations and focus on world points such because the conflict in Ukraine.
But UK officers privately admit they’ve given up hope of signing a complete free commerce settlement, and level out the US shouldn’t be forging such a take care of any nation.
Instead, they’re specializing in securing smaller agreements designed to open up US markets to British corporations over time. This consists of convincing the US to recognise British skilled {qualifications}, to permit UK corporations to bid for contracts within the US.
The UK can be engaged on commerce offers with particular person US states.