Biden quietly abandons plans for comprehensive UK trade deal (Image: Getty)
Joe Biden has quietly shelved plans for better trade terms with the UK ahead of the presidential election.
Britain had already abandoned hopes of a full post-Brexit deal after the Democrat ruled out agreements with any country soon after taking power.
But insiders said hopes of a “foundational” pact that would form the building blocks of closer ties has been quietly dropped.
Sources briefed by both governments expressed scepticism about the revival of the negotiations, telling Politico: "I don't think we're going to see that re-emerge."
Powered By
00:00/00:42
10
10
IAC: Celebrities take on Grim Gutter Trial in preview
Share
Next
Stay
But a Whitehall source played down concerns, insisting the plan was “just a working document” and “never got above official level”.
Since leaving the EU in 2020, the government has been hopeful of much closer business dealing with the States after being freed from Brussels red tape.
But the US president put plans on ice following Senate opposition and disagreements over how big such a deal should be.
Earlier this year, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said there was “zero chance” of a deal under Mr Biden as his administration has “very close links with unions”, which are against free trade agreements.
Trending
Instead, a less ambitious pact was being worked on with 11 proposed chapters, presented by the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) office earlier this year.
Negotiations were expected before the end of 2023.
The proposed timeline for the talks, excluding market access considerations and not aligning with the World Trade Organisation's definition of a free trade agreement, aimed to end negotiations before the upcoming elections in both countries next year.
In terms of content, the agreement shared more similarities with the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) than a comprehensive trade agreement.
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
It focused on addressing regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers.
However, the IPEF negotiations collapsed recently when senior Democrats criticised the Biden administration for not including enforceable labour standards in the trade provisions.
Ms Badenoch pushed for an IPEF-style deal in April during President Biden's visit to Belfast, aiming to revitalise talks initially initiated under the Trump administration.
However, many in the US have expressed concern about the nature of a pact with the UK.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
David Cameron in Brexit U-turn as he admits he is 'impressed' at Britain's trade success
770 Comments
Nigel Farage's jungle trials, Sadiq Khan's ULEZ and a campervan - the 12 days of politics
24 Comments
Kemi Badenoch says UK booze producers are in ‘high spirits' after landmark trade deal win
630 Comments
Inside the £150bn China has amassed as it benefits from Ukraine-Russia war
13 Comments
Kemi Badenoch hails £868bn UK exports bonanza in huge Brexit trade victory
2856 Comments
Britain may stand alone next year in lurching to the left, says Patrick O'Flynn
19 Comments
The UK and US special relationship has never been more important, says Liam Fox
85 Comments
Tories looking at how to fire slacking civil servants more easily and get more in offices
260 Comments
EU's Grinch-like plans could hit UK businesses with new requirement for ‘toy passports'
368 Comments
'Biden has reached his Time for Choosing as angry Americans begin to lose patience'
25 Comments
'I paid £300k for a Turkish passport so my future family doesn't get stuck in the EU'
120 Comments
'Skewed priorities!' - Humza Yousaf under fire as SNP blows £83,000 on American 'embassy'
490 Comments
Depressing Remoaner doomsayers are ignoring the good of Brexit, says Ross Clark
19 Comments
'Ludicrous!' Fury as funds meant for north of England to be used to fix potholes in London
65 Comments
'Anybody but Biden!' No hope for a UK trade deal without changing President, expert warns
122 Comments
Joe Biden snubs UK and shelves plan for trade agreement in huge blow to Rishi Sunak
2263 Comments
Brexit Britain 'one of Santa's biggest workshops' in toy exports boom
80 Comments
Brexit win as British business thriving in Australia thanks to trade deal
547 Comments
British cheese producers furious as Canada lets post-Brexit trade agreement expire
337 Comments
Nigel Farage brands Joe Biden 'anti-British' and 'unfit' for office in angry Brexit swipe
301 Comments
David Cameron in Brexit U-turn as he admits he is 'impressed' at Britain's trade success
770 Comments
Nigel Farage's jungle trials, Sadiq Khan's ULEZ and a campervan - the 12 days of politics
24 Comments
Kemi Badenoch says UK booze producers are in ‘high spirits' after landmark trade deal win
630 Comments
Inside the £150bn China has amassed as it benefits from Ukraine-Russia war
13 Comments
Kemi Badenoch hails £868bn UK exports bonanza in huge Brexit trade victory
2856 Comments
Britain may stand alone next year in lurching to the left, says Patrick O'Flynn
19 Comments
The UK and US special relationship has never been more important, says Liam Fox
85 Comments
Tories looking at how to fire slacking civil servants more easily and get more in offices
260 Comments
EU's Grinch-like plans could hit UK businesses with new requirement for ‘toy passports'
368 Comments
'Biden has reached his Time for Choosing as angry Americans begin to lose patience'
25 Comments
'I paid £300k for a Turkish passport so my future family doesn't get stuck in the EU'
120 Comments
'Skewed priorities!' - Humza Yousaf under fire as SNP blows £83,000 on American 'embassy'
490 Comments
Depressing Remoaner doomsayers are ignoring the good of Brexit, says Ross Clark
19 Comments
'Ludicrous!' Fury as funds meant for north of England to be used to fix potholes in London
65 Comments
'Anybody but Biden!' No hope for a UK trade deal without changing President, expert warns
122 Comments
Joe Biden snubs UK and shelves plan for trade agreement in huge blow to Rishi Sunak
2263 Comments
Brexit Britain 'one of Santa's biggest workshops' in toy exports boom
80 Comments
Brexit win as British business thriving in Australia thanks to trade deal
547 Comments
British cheese producers furious as Canada lets post-Brexit trade agreement expire
337 Comments
Nigel Farage brands Joe Biden 'anti-British' and 'unfit' for office in angry Brexit swipe
301 Comments
David Cameron in Brexit U-turn as he admits he is 'impressed' at Britain's trade success
770 Comments
Nigel Farage's jungle trials, Sadiq Khan's ULEZ and a campervan - the 12 days of politics
24 Comments
Kemi Badenoch says UK booze producers are in ‘high spirits' after landmark trade deal win
630 Comments
Inside the £150bn China has amassed as it benefits from Ukraine-Russia war
13 Comments
Kemi Badenoch hails £868bn UK exports bonanza in huge Brexit trade victory
2856 Comments
Britain may stand alone next year in lurching to the left, says Patrick O'Flynn
19 Comments
The UK and US special relationship has never been more important, says Liam Fox
85 Comments
"Trade negotiations should be driven by substance," said a spokesperson for Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.
"It is Senator Wyden's view that the United States and the United Kingdom should not make announcements until a deal that benefits Americans is achievable," they added.
A UK government spokesman said: “The UK and US are rapidly expanding co-operation on a range of vital economic and trade issues building on the Atlantic Declaration announced earlier this year.”
Related articles 'Biden has reached his Time for Choosing as Americans begin to lose patience' Iran warns Israel-Hamas war in Gaza will be Joe Biden's undoing Vladimir Putin slams Joe Biden's warning of Russian attack on NATO as 'nonsense' US will 'pull the plug on Israel' if goals not met in weeks Joe Biden watches in horror as car smashes into his motorcade