Anglo-American leaders talked over the phone in the free trade agreement, "some people are anxious and others are not"?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a phone conversation with the new US President Joseph Biden on the 23rd, becoming the first European leader to call him after Biden took office.
The British Prime Minister's Office and the White House respectively issued statements saying that the two discussed a series of issues, including the fight against the new crown epidemic, the suspension of the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the continued deepening of relations between the two sides.
Data map: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
One of the focus of the relationship between the two countries that has attracted the most attention from the outside world is whether Britain and the United States can reach a free trade agreement after Britain’s “Brexit”.
The Associated Press and other media reported that Johnson seemed to be "more anxious" than Biden in reaching a free trade agreement. This can be seen in the statements of both parties.
The statement of the British Prime Minister's Office stated that Johnson and Biden discussed the "benefits of a possible free trade agreement between our two countries", and Johnson "reiterated his intention to resolve the current trade issues (between Britain and the United States) as soon as possible."
The White House statement did not mention that the two discussed trade issues, only that they discussed addressing climate change, fighting the new crown epidemic, and ensuring global health security.
Britain originally enjoyed a free trade arrangement with the United States as a member of the European Union, but after “Brexit” it needs to negotiate free trade agreements with other economies.
Many media reported that reaching a free trade agreement with the United States has become an "important priority" for the Johnson administration.
The picture shows US President Biden signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.
In contrast to Britain’s “urgency”, White House Press Secretary Jane Psaki said on the 22nd that the United States has not set a timetable for the signing of the new free trade agreement because the United States is currently focusing on controlling the domestic new crown epidemic and promoting the adoption of the new free trade agreement in Congress. Economic rescue plan.
Janet Yellen, the secretary of the Treasury nominated by Biden and former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, said at a congressional hearing earlier this week that Biden has made it clear that “until the United States makes major investments in employment and infrastructure, it will not Sign any new free trade agreements".
According to the White House statement, before calling Johnson, Biden had a phone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador after taking office.
(Zheng Haoning) (Xinhua News Agency special feature)