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If anything, 2016 was a year full of stunning defeats for the establishment. Not only did Donald Trump brush aside the corrupt media to win the election, but the Brexit campaign in the UK did the same in the face of similar opposition. Now as we enter 2017, Trump and Prime Minster Therasa May have big plans to strengthen the special relationship between the two countries.
Post-Brexit, Donald Trump indicated the UK should move to the front of the line for any future trade deals the US might make, and now he seems to be making good on those plans as May gets set to meet him in Washington this week.
From The Independent:
Theresa May has left the door open for the greater involvement of US corporations in British healthcare as she arrives in America to lay the ground for a future trade deal.
Ms. May would only say that she was committed to a health service that is free at the point of delivery, but made no comment on whether the NHS would be off the table in any future talks.
Trade and the UK’s economic relationship with the US will be one of the key pillars of the Prime Minister’s visit to Philadelphia and Washington DC. Asked whether health services might form a part of a potential deal, she said: “We’re at the start of the process of talking about a trade deal. We’re both very clear that we want a trade deal.“It will be in the interests of the UK from my point of view, that’s what I’m going to be taking in, into the trade discussions that take place in due course.
“Obviously he will have the interests of the US. I believe we can come to an agreement that is in the interests of both.”
Of course, one of the arguments against Brexit was that the UK would lose access to the EU market, doing damage to their economy. The EU’s use of the bully tactic was proof enough that the voters made the right call by leaving, and now President Trump is gearing up to help one of our most loyal allies.
The discussions come after President Trump formally pulled the US out of TPP and vowed to renegotiate some of the terms of NAFTA. Now, he is making good on his promise to negotiate better trade deals by entering negotiations with the UK in a move that could greatly benefit both countries.
The details are still sketchy in the beginning phases of negotiations, but the meeting this week will give the two sides a chance to make progress towards a deal. We will have more on this story as it develops.
[Note: This post was written by Michael Lee. Follow him on Twitter @UAMichaelLee]
