Voters demand PM prioritise US trade deal - as he ditches promise to strike one
Voters have told Rishi Sunak to prioritise getting a trade deal with the US as he ditched his promise to strike one.
The PM warned negotiating an agreement was “not a priority” as he prepared to meet Joe Biden on Thursday.
The pair will hold talks as Mr Sunak makes his first visit to the White House.
At the 2019 election, Conservative MPs stood on a manifesto that vowed to sign a deal with the US within three years.
But Mr Sunak has added the pledge to the bonfire of Tory broken promises.
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Polling seen by the Mirror shows the public want the UK to strike a trade deal with the US more than any other country.
Rishi Sunak arriving in Washington DC on Wednesday (Getty Images)A survey conducted by More in Common found 42% think a Transatlantic agreement should be prioritised.
Just 18% said India, 13% China, 12% Brazil, 11% Turkey and 4% Russia.
Almost half (46%) want deals that grow the economy, while 36% said it should be a key aim to bring down prices for British consumers.
Some 45% raised concerns that the UK is pushed around too much in international trade negotiations.
Mr Sunak last night conceded a trade deal with the US would not be on the agenda when he meets Mr Biden.
The PM said: “I think that for a while now it’s not been a priority for either the US or UK, because what we're both focused on is making sure that our economic partnership reflects the particular challenges and opportunities of the time that we're in right now.
“And that is the conversation that I will be having with President Biden.”
He added: “What we have been doing with the US is looking at specific and targeted ways to improve trade between our countries. We already have an unbelievably strong trading relationship.”
In their 2019 election manifesto, the Conservatives said: “Our goals for British trade are accordingly ambitious.
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“We aim to have 80 per cent of UK trade covered by free trade agreements within the next three years, starting with the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.”
Mr Sunak on Wednesday is due to meet figures including Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Luke Tryl, UK Director of More in Common, said: “Brits feel they were promised a trade deal with the United States as a benefit of Brexit and want the Government to deliver on it.
"But with the Australia deal looking like it does more to benefit Oz than the UK, they want the government to make sure it stands up for British interests and high standards in any future negotiations.”
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