UK begins US trade talks to secure deal

LONDON: The UK yesterday began two days of talks with the US, hoping for progress to secure a coveted post-Brexit free trade deal.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan was hosting her US counterpart Katherine Tai in Aberdeen, Scotland, and London. Trevelyan said the meeting focused on digital and innovation sectors, sustainable trade, supporting smalland medium-sized businesses, and supply chain resilience.

The UK left the EU in January last year, and has been seeking deals to boost international trade. But Biden has warned Johnson a deal will be off if London’s row with Brussels over post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland affects hard-won peace.