US Trade Chief Says UK's EU Alignment Complicates Trade Deal

Washington's top trade official has publicly questioned Britain's trade strategy, suggesting that London's continued alignment with European Union regulations is undermining its efforts to secure a more expansive trade agreement with the United States.

In an interview published on Friday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that Britain is effectively choosing "Brussels over America," which he described as a "problem" for ongoing negotiations. His remarks signal a potential stumbling block in the post-Brexit trade relationship between the two nations.

Greer argued that the UK has not fully capitalized on the economic freedoms afforded by its departure from the EU. Instead of forging a more independent trade policy, he suggested that Britain has remained closely tethered to the bloc's regulatory framework while simultaneously maintaining barriers to American imports.

Furthermore, the U.S. envoy pointed to what he characterized as "pretty high tariffs" on certain goods, implying that these measures add another layer of friction to commercial exchanges. The comments highlight a growing frustration in Washington over the pace and direction of the UK's trade liberalization since Brexit.