U.S. and U.K. in Talks on New Trade Deal

The U.S. is encouraging Britain to open agricultural markets to U.S. traders. A new economic agreement that falls just short of a free trade agreement has been in the works since the onset of Brexit. However, negotiations have been challenging in the area of agriculture, as the U.K. objects to some animal-agriculture-related practices common in the U.S.

The U.K. has been in talks with India and is almost ready to conclude a free trade agreement, the most significant agreement since Britain left the European Union. The U.K. reports this agreement has been a priority, although the economic agreement with the U.S. will be a priority in the new year. The largest hurdle is that the U.K. is unwilling to import American food products produced at lower regulatory standards than those in the U.K., such as chlorine-washed chicken or hormones in beef.

Read more on the potential for new trade markets with the UK here.