Joe Biden is responsible for scuppering a UK-US free trade deal, Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has claimed.
The blame game emerged during an appearance at the Business and Trade committee, where the popular Tory right-winger said Donald Trump losing office was the biggest reason the much-desired accord has not been achieved.
Ms Badenoch told MPs: “The biggest thing that had an impact on us reaching that objective was the changing administration from President Trump to President Biden”.
She revealed the UK “were carrying out negotiations for a US FTA [Free Trade Agreement] but when the administration changed, the Biden administration just is not doing FTAs”.
“They have said they are not doing FTAs with anybody so it isn’t about us despite a lot of the narrative you might read about in the press.
“Their strategy is not using free trade agreements but it is more the smaller packages on single issues.”
Undeterred, the UK has signed trade deals with seven US states since leaving the EU.
Ms Badenoch flew to Florida to sign an accord with Governor Ron DeSantis in November last year, a pact that will provide a major boost to the UK’s high-potential sects including space and financial tech.
It was the seventh Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and a US state, following Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington.
Collectively they have an economy worth nearly $4 trillion.
But the Government is not stopping there. Also in November Ms Badenoch hinted at which major US state could be next in line.
Speaking in the Commons, she said Britain is on course to sign a huge agreement with California, a state with an economy larger than India and Britain.
If California were an independent country, it would have the fifth largest economy in the world, after the US, China, Japan and Germany, meaning a potentially huge boost for Britain’s exporters.
Responding to a question from David Davis about her recent deal in Florida, and what it means for progress on a US-wide trade deal, the trade secretary said it is disappointing that the US is refusing to sign new trade deals with any third country.
“I will start off by letting my Rt Hon. friend know that we are very ready to have a trade deal with the US, but the US is not undertaking any FTA with any country, this is of course disappointing but they know we stand ready.
“That is why we’ve had the state [memorandum of understanding] programme.
“The latest figures actually show that UK-US trade has reached £310 billion.”
Ms Badenoch added that the Californian governor, Gavin Newson wants the UK free trade deal even faster than Florida achieved one.
According to Whitehall sources, ministers are already pinning hopes on a full UK-US trade deal should Donald Trump return to the White House this year.
