U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) recently announced that he would lead a resolution calling for discussions about a bilateral trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
Dent announced a resolution calling on the Obama administration to immediately initiate discussions for a bilateral trade agreement in response to the U.K.’s pending exit from the European Union (EU).
“The Brexit referendum, for better or for worse, is behind us,” Dent said. “This was a decision for the British people to make and they chose to leave. We must respect that decision whether we agree with it or not. Now, Congress has a responsibility and interest to work with the United Kingdom, particularly when it comes to strengthening economic ties between our two great nations.”
Dent’s resolution calls on the Obama administration to direct the United States Trade Representative to immediately commence trade discussions with U.K. officials.
“Brexit will likely cause short-term disruptions,” Dent said. “A bilateral trade agreement, the North Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (NATIP), will mitigate potentially adverse economic consequences as a result of Brexit. Beginning discussions for this agreement will help stabilize the current financial turmoil.”
Dent added that that the U.K. is the largest private sector investor in the United States, and that it is one of the largest markets for U.S. exports.
“Discussions for a bilateral trade agreement between the U.S. and the U.K. do not weaken a commitment to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP),” Dent said. “It is abundantly clear that negotiations for TTIP are moving at a slow pace. NATIP could ignite action or movement on TTIP. These two trade agreements would be complimentary to one another.”