The U.S. and the United Kingdom have paused their discussions on a new trade deal, but officials in both countries want those talks to pick back up.
UK Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce was in attendance at the Cattle Industry Convention in Houston this week, where she said the discussion process will be important to discover common ground.
?It?s not exactly give-and-take, but there will be things that American producers want, there will be things British producers want, and we somehow have to navigate through that,? Pierce said. ?Now, I have been very encouraged when meeting the NCBA in D.C. that we can find a way through all of that and get to a deal that will give everybody a good chunk of what they want. No one?s going to get 100%, but we do believe we can find a way through.?
While she understands American negotiators will be seeking concessions from the UK, she said her side of the table will bring a wish list as well.
?I would just say to USTR: beware,? Pierce said. ?We practice negotiating as well. I think, fundamentally, there are some things we both want- small to medium sized enterprises, digital trade- and there are things where we want to make progress, like agriculture, but we might want to make it in slightly different areas. In theory, we want to be able to bring that together to get a good deal for everybody, but there will be problems ahead that always are over agriculture.?
Kent Bacus, senior director of international trade at the NCBA, said American producers would have a lot to gain from a better UK partnership.
?Agriculture is going to be one of the most difficult things to negotiate,? Bacus said. ?I think it?s that way in every agreement. With the UK, it?s a very sensitive market. I think there are a lot of folks that are probably out there heads saying, ?What are you doing? You don?t stand a chance. Why are you even bothering?? The funny thing is people told us the same thing about Korea, they told us the same thing about Japan, they told us to not even bother with China, and now those are our top three markets.?
Bacus added that the organization would want to see science-based trade and American production practices recognized in any potential trade deal.
