Divorcing the “Special Relationship”?

The USA is being left behind by those with a “special relationship”. Canada, New Zealand, Australia and now the UK are all in on the act.

The UK is joining CPTPP. A Telegraph article (29th March 2023) “Pacific trade deal will mean Britain can never rejoin the EU” concentrates on the EU implications. But it probably has far greater implications if you read between the lines.

Historically the USA has always tried to restrict any trade agreement to only a few key areas. This is probably to remove competition but also to leave the door open to promises of better trade in exchange for US foreign policy demands. But it is a dangerous game to play considering the world today.

The Biden administration has frustrated the UK government for some time now and on more than one issue. They have pressured the UK to ignore their democratic decision to leave the EU, using Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement as leverage. Additionally they have constantly played a double game; using the carrot of trade to get their way without any genuine intent to come to any arrangement.

Trump too found problems backing US joining TPP, which is understandable considering the shape the country was in when he became President. However in contrast to Biden, Trump appeared prepared to make some trade agreement with the UK. But it stopped going further than a few key areas. A comprehensive trade deal would have removed the need for the UK to join CPTPP and would have created a core trading with English speaking countries which could have grown.

The future is CPTPP & BRICS

The implications of the stupidity of the Biden administration cannot be overlooked. Provoking Russia and China has bolstered BRICS and its growth potential; and leaving the UK in the cold has bolstered the strength of CPTPP. You can’t consider having any special relationship if you do not trust trading in all areas with those countries.

Last chance or Isolationism?

Donald Trump tried to ensure the United States wore the cap. The United States now only has the European Union with which to broker a deal. The problem is they are an established multi-country trade group, meaning under Biden the USA is now the one with cap in hand.

If the European Union’s behaviour towards Britain is anything to go by, the chance for a deal that is reasonable for the USA is slim. Add the Nordstream attack and I think it is safe to say the EU will be ruthless. I guess this could be considered a new “special relationship”.

An election cannot undo the damage the Biden Administration has gifted the American people. BRICS and CPTPP will dominate the world in the future; the USA has chosen an isolationism that it can ill afford.