WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) joined Adam Boulton on Sky News' All Out Politics to discuss the latest updates on Brexit and how Britain's departure from the European Union would impact a future trade deal with the United States. Congressman Hill highlighted the longstanding partnership between the United States and Britain and supported trade negotiations that will open up more markets for agriculture and financial services between the two nations.
Click HERE or on the picture below to watch Congressman Hill's interview on Sky News' All Out Politics.
Congressman Hill is a member of the British-American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) and has extensive international experience working on trade as a senior official in the administration of President George H.W. Bush.
Highlights of the interview are copied below:
T-TIP as the foundation for a U.S.-Britain trade deal "There is an opportunity with the E.U. and with the U.K. for the U.S. to improve our trade position by adopting some of the language that has been worked on over years through the T-TIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) negotiations, as a basis for that improvement. I think America would like to expand its export opportunities both in the E.U. and in the United Kingdom whether it comes in the agricultural area or otherwise."
"I think the U.S. wants to represent across all of its manufactured and farm products [during trade negotiations]. That is why I think the discussion will take a long time. It will be challenging but there is a lot of work that has been put into place by T-TIP over the years and that is where we should start. I would hope that the United Kingdom would be more forthcoming to American trade than perhaps the E.U. would be if it is independent of the European Union."
"I think that if the U.K. leaves the E.U., the United States will work constructively to have a good relationship. I still believe that if the E.U. and the U.K. determine how they are going to handle Brexit, the United States will work constructively under whatever those terms are. I was a trade negotiator under the [George H.W. Bush] days back in the 1990's. I know how hard the work is. I know it has to be win-win for both sides.
Opening more financial services markets between the U.S. and the U.K. "[The financial services industry] is one of the most important industries between our two countries. I sit on the House Financial Services Committee and our financial services industry, between London, New York, the U.S., and the U.K., is critical. We want to see that more open both ways. I was pleased to see that there will be an economic working group set up on the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. That will be a good way to have those conversations, particularly as it relates to the financial services, come to light."
"We have a great relationship [with the U.K.], we have thousands of businesses intertwined, a trillion dollars of foreign direct investment in both markets. I think it is a way for both countries to gain. Naturally, all countries that are smaller than the U.S. economy say, 'it will be a challenging negotiation.' I can say from my own experience in the 1990's, small countries are able negotiators. I have no doubt that Prime Minister Johnson will be an able negotiator."
