Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out the negotiation objectives for a comprehensive free trade agreement with the US, but insists the NHS will not be for sale while any deal would maintain high food standards.
With negotiations now under way on seeking a new trading relationship with the European Union聽 鈥 with a tight deadline set by Mr Johnson of year end聽 鈥 the 海角视频 Government said negotiations with Washington could commence this month.
It added that it is seeking free聽trade聽agreements with countries that cover 80% of total 海角视频 external聽trade聽by 2022.
The government it said its negotiation objectives for Australia, Japan and New Zealand will be revealed shortly.聽
On a deal with the US, the government said its overall objectives include:
- 聽A comprehensive free聽trade agreement that strengthens the economic relationship with the 海角视频's largest bilateral trading partner, promoting increased goods and services聽trade聽and greater cross-border investment.聽
- A deal that increases 海角视频 GDP by聽opening up聽opportunities for British businesses and investors and facilitating greater choice and lower prices for British producers and consumers.聽
- One that rigorously protect the 海角视频鈥檚 freedom to provide public services, such as the National Health Service, in the national interest.
It added: "The NHS is not for sale and the government is committed to the guiding principles of the NHS 鈥 that it is universal and free at the point of use."
It also said that any deal would ensure high standards and protections for British consumers and workers, and build on existing international obligations while upholding the 海角视频鈥檚 high domestic standards on food safety and animal welfare.
Farming unions have expressed concerns that a deal with Donald Trump's administration could bring lower standard food products into the 海角视频 marketplace, most notably chlorinated chicken.
Mr Johnson 鈥淲e have the best negotiators in the business and of course, we鈥檙e going to drive a hard bargain to boost British industry.聽
鈥淭rading Scottish smoked salmon for Stetson hats, we will deliver lower prices and more choice for our shoppers.聽
鈥淢ost importantly, this transatlantic聽trade聽deal聽will reflect the unique closeness of our two great nations.鈥
鈥疘nternational聽Trade聽Secretary Liz Truss said: 鈥淪triking ambitious free聽trade聽agreements with our partners around the world is one of the key opportunities of Britain becoming an independent trading nation once again.
鈥淭his聽deal聽with our biggest single trading partner will cut red tape for our small businesses, cut tariffs for our great products from dairy to cars and increase growth in all four nations.鈥
Director-general of business body the CBI, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, said: "The 海角视频 is beginning a brand-new chapter in its global future, and a good trade deal with the US is a vital part of that story.
鈥淚t鈥檚 encouraging to see the government鈥檚 ambitions to make it easier for skilled people to move between the 海角视频 and US, support small business exporters and future-proof any agreement around industries of the future.
鈥淭he US and 海角视频 already share the world鈥檚 largest bilateral investment relationship; now is the time to use it as a springboard for new jobs and investment here at home.鈥
