Wales can benefit greatly if the 海角视频 concludes a post-Brexit free trade deal with the United States, the American ambassador said during a visit to Cardiff.
Robert “Woody” Johnson gave a pre-lunch speech to members of Cardiff Business Club at the city’s Hilton Hotel.
A businessman and fervent supporter of President Trump, he has stated previously that American companies should be free to bid for contracts with the NHS.
In an interview ahead of Mr Trump’s state visit last month, Mr Johnson said the US was already “looking at all the components of the deal and trying to get everything lined up so when the time comes we’re ready to go”.
Asked if healthcare would be part of the deal, he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think probably the entire economy, in a trade deal all things that are traded will be on the table.”
Mr Johnson also said chlorinated chicken – which is permitted under American regulations but banned in the EU – was “completely safe”.
He added: “Once again, you can have a choice. We have five million Brits, British people, coming over to the US every year and I’ve never heard a complaint, one complaint about anything to do with chicken.”
In Cardiff, Mr Johnson told around 150 business leaders and lawyers: “When the President was over here last time, he announced once again his desire to put a free trade agreement – a world-class, unbelievable free trade agreement – together with the 海角视频.
Most Read
“Trade agreements can be complicated if you want to make them complicated, and simple if you want to get them done and increase trade and people’s prosperity.
“In this country, as you know better than I do, 50,000 to 60,000 jobs are from American companies.
“There are 270 US firms over here. We’re your biggest investor – it’s big.
“You have about $5bn of exports to the US, and those exports grew by 16% last year. It’s very, very good.
“It goes against what everybody has said. They said growth was going to go down. I remember when I came over here – I got here 22 months ago or so – and they said it would be negative 3% growth.
“I heard your Bank of England chairman say that.
“Quite frankly, when I looked out of my window and I saw about 100 cranes, I know we’re going up.
Don’t miss
“The US and the 海角视频 do about $260bn [in trade per year]. That went up about 17% – so that’s huge growth. The US is your biggest market, other than the EU, and that will continue.
“When the President was here, he said: ‘I want to double and triple the trade we do together’, and everybody took that home.
“They underestimate what the President can do, If he says 200% or 300%, it’s going to happen. Nobody knows how it’s going to happen, all the sceptics will say that can’t happen. I know it can happen.
“I’ve known Donald Trump for 30 years. So I know if he says it, it’s going to be true.
“When he was over here, he stayed with me. It was great to have him.
“I went around all the country with him – we went to France, we went to Ireland.”
Mr Johnson told how on one of the last legs of their travels President Trump wrote a message to two boys aged 12 and 10 who had contacted him – one called Brick, the other called Jack.
“He said, ‘Dear Brick and Jack, Think big!’ Signed Donald J Trump.
“And you know what? That’s right. Because if you think big, there are no limits. There’s no barriers, no limits to what you can do. The only limit is what you put on yourself.
“When I look at Wales, I see no limits to what you can accomplish here. This is an important spot. You’ve got absolutely everything you need. All these universities and all you great business guys and people.”
Mr Johnson took questions from the audience.
Asked by businessman Nigel Payne, the honorary consul to Slovakia, whether he would appoint an honorary US consul in Wales to further the “special relationship” between the 海角视频 and the US, Mr Johnson did not appear to know what an honorary consul did. When it was explained to him, he said it was something to be considered.
Asked how he thought the 海角视频 would refine its relationships on the world stage and especially the US, in the event of Brexit, Mr Johnson replied: “I don’t think it needs much refining for the US.
“Once you’ve got a free trade agreement, I think business will be fast and furious.
“The ones that see the opportunity first will be the ones that take advantage first. There’s going to be a lot of opportunity coming up if you become your own sovereign nation again.
“As an American, we’re very optimistic. A glass three-quarters full is as low as it gets. You have the talent to make sure you navigate this in a good way. I know you do.”
Asked by artist William Wilkins how American art collectors could be persuaded to donate or lend works to the National Museum of Wales – which while especially good on French and Welsh painting had few American works – Mr Johnson said: “When you become prosperous, like the President says you will, you’re going to have so much money that it’s not going to be a problem. You can buy all the American art you want.”
Asked whether he could envisage any downside in free trade talks between the 海角视频 and the US – perhaps restrictions that the President would want to impose – Mr Johnson responded: “No. Things are going to be worked out.
“When you have a business community that’s willing to go for it, you have a different mindset, you think big and we get it done.
“And it’s going to be great.”