Let's deepen economic ties, Britain's May tells Trump

Goldman Sachs BDC

03/06/2019 22:30

LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa
May will call on U.S. President Donald Trump to deepen
transatlantic economic cooperation on Tuesday, saying a
bilateral trade deal could make their partnership "greater
still".    
    Despite hosting Trump in the dying days of her premiership
after her failure to deliver Brexit on time forced her to
resign, May will also distance herself from the U.S. leader on
trade by championing "free, fair and open" markets.
    At a meeting with 10 British and U.S. businesses at St
James' Palace, the Queen's official residence, May will tell
companies such as defence contractor BAE Systems and
pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline that greater cooperation
would boost the two countries' economic partnership.
    "It is a great partnership, but one I believe we can make
greater still," she will say, according to advance extracts from
her office.
    "With a bilateral free trade agreement, with broader
economic co-operation, and by continuing to work together to
underpin, shape and influence the global economy and its rules
and institutions - keeping markets free, fair and open, and
keeping our industries competitive."
    The discussions, which will also involve senior
representatives from the National Grid, Barclays, consumer goods
maker Reckitt Benckiser, JP Morgan, Lockheed Martin, Goldman
Sachs International, construction company Bechtel and cyber
security and data analytics firm Splunk, are expected to focus
on research and development and on infrastructure investment.
    The United States is by far Britain's biggest single trading
partner, and for decades, the two shared a desire to open up
world markets to free trade. But Trump has shaken trade and
markets by putting tariffs on goods from the European Union,
Canada, Mexico and China.

 (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Kate Holton)
 ((elizabeth.piper@thomsonreuters.com; 07979746994; Reuters
Messaging: elizabeth.piper.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))