Top trade negotiators from the U.S. and U.K. met in Washington on March 15 to discuss U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, as well as intellectual property protection for small and medium-sized businesses, as the two countries work toward a bilateral trade deal.
In a joint statement, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.K. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said the two trading allies published guidance following the meeting for small and medium-sized enterprises located in their respective countries, detailing intellectual property rules and regulations in both countries.The meeting preceded a larger U.S.-U.K. Trade and Investment Working Group confab slated for March 20 in Washington.
Fox said the March 15 meeting "touched on our shared ambition for a far deeper trade relationship both now and once the U.K. has left the EU."
"We also spoke about the United States' planned imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum," Fox said.
The U.S. and U.K. did not give any further details on which elements of the tariffs were discussed, but the discussions came as the European Union pushed back firmly against the 25% tariff on U.S. steel imports and 10% tariff on aluminum imports that Trump signed March 8.
The EU has threatened retaliation against the U.S. should it impose the steel and aluminum tariffs on its member countries, including imposing tariffs of 25% on American peanut butter and cranberry exports as well as reported tariffs on Harley-Davidson Inc. motorcycles and U.S.-made shirts, textiles and footwear.
Trump, in turn, has threatened to impose tariffs on European automobile imports if the EU retaliates.
Lighthizer said trade officials discussed the U.K. exit from the European Union slated for March 2019 as well as eliminating "trade-distorting policies" and addressing overcapacity.
"Secretary of State Fox and I had very productive discussions on how to deepen our already extensive trade relationship — both now and when the U.K. leaves the EU," Lighthizer said.
The U.S. and U.K. began talks in July 2017 to secure a bilateral trade deal after British voters opted to leave the EU, a process that formally began in March 2017.
Trump said in January at the World Economic Forum that he expects a "tremendous increase" in trade between the U.S. and the U.K. as they work toward a trade deal, Reuters reported.
Trade between the U.S. and U.K. is roughly $230 billion annually, according to the trade representative's office.
