LONDON — Britain has struck its fourth state-level trade deal in Washington on Tuesday as talks with the Biden administration for a comprehensive deal remain on ice.
U.K. International Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston is in Washington to sign a pact with Oklahoma focused on boosting cross-border investment in green technologies like carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).
“The U.S. is our largest trading partner, and these wins reflect our successful twin-track approach to trade with the U.S., strengthening links with individual states in parallel with work with the federal government,” said Huddleston.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pressed Joe Biden last week during his visit to Northern Ireland to get trade dialogues back on track with the aim of working towards a comprehensive deal. But the Biden administration indicates it won’t talk trade until this June, at the earliest.
U.K. Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch noted in parliament Monday that “the U.S. is not doing [free-trade agreements] with any countries; this has nothing to do specifically with the U.K.”
The pact with Oklahoma is the fourth state-level deal after those with Indiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. The U.K. introduced this strategy after talks for a comprehensive deal fell apart at the end of the Trump administration.
The U.K. is currently in talks with Utah, Texas and California for state-level deals.
Huddleston will also attend an event Wednesday to welcome a February pact between U.K. and U.S. architect regulators that allows professionals to easily work across borders.
