Trade deal with US will not happen any time soon, says former pro-Brexit Tory minister
Theresa Villiers warned that an agreement with the UK would not be a ‘high priority’ for either Ms Clinton or Mr Trump
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former pro-Brexit Cabinet minister has rubbished predictions of a quick trade deal with the United States to compensate for leaving the EU.
Theresa Villiers said both Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump were turning away from free trade, which meant an agreement with the UK would not be a “high priority”, whoever wins the race for the White House.
The prominent Leave campaigner, who was sacked by Theresa May, warned: “A radical reduction of tariff barriers between us and the US will, I think, take some time to achieve.”
The comments may embarrass Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, who has made wooing the United States a key part of his post-Brexit trading strategy.
In July, Dr Fox toured the country to drum up business as he pushed for a “hard Brexit” that would see Britain quit the EU’s single market.
He announced that his department would open offices in the cities of Minneapolis in Minnesota, Raleigh in North Carolina and San Diego in California. And he emphasised his determination to start to “scope out any possible deals that we might want to do” immediately after Brexit is completed in 2019, under the Government’s timetable.
Dr Fox told an audience in Chicago: “I want to reiterate that we have nothing to fear from forging our own free trade environment and breaking out on our own.
“We can start from a blank piece of paper, and use our unique attributes to create a prosperous and more open trading future.”
But Ms Villiers, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, gave a far gloomier prediction at a meeting of the Thatcherite Conservative Way Forward group, at the Birmingham conference.
Referring to the presidential contest, she said: “Unfortunately, neither of the candidates are singing the praises of free trade to say the least.
“It does make it more challenging for the UK and our efforts to get a trade deal. Sadly, I don’t think one with the United States is going be a high priority for them, so it may take some time.
“Of course that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to do business with the United States, but a radical reduction of tariff barriers between us and the US will, I think, take some time to achieve.”
Meanwhile, the group’s chairman, former minister Sir Gerald Howarth, made clear the delight of right-wing Conservatives at the direction taken by the Prime Minister.
He described Ms May’s speech on Sunday – in which she set a course for Brexit by 2019, to make Britain an “independent sovereign nation” again – as “absolutely outstanding”, adding: “I couldn’t have written it better myself.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments