Issues to be addressed in a trade agreement between the U.S. and the United Kingdom are the focus of a request for public comment by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. A hearing will be held Jan. 29 in Washington, D.C. and written comments are due by Jan. 15. The White House has said talks with the UK will begin as soon as London is ready after it exits from the European Union on March 29, 2019.
As it develops U.S. negotiating positions, USTR is particularly interested in comments on the following.
– general and product-specific negotiating objectives
– relevant barriers to trade in goods and services
– economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removing or reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on articles traded with the UK
– treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers), including product-specific import or export interests or barriers, experience with particular measures that should be addressed, and ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities
– customs and trade facilitation issues
– sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade
– other measures or practices that undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers