Senator Mike Lee’s (R-UT) resolution calling for a free trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom passed the United States Senate.  Sen. Lee has advocated for a US-UK trade agreement since Britain’s vote to exit the European Union which allows for such a deal.  In negotiation with Democratic colleagues, Lee introduced various versions of the resolution over the course of the past three years.  He also published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal with the Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith MP calling for a free trade agreement between the allies.  In 2015, the United Kingdom was Utah’s largest export market, and in 2016 Utah exported over $3.5 billion in goods and services to the UK.

The resolution states in part, “the United States should strengthen its close and mutually beneficial trading and economic partnership with the United Kingdom,” and recognizes “the United States and the United Kingdom share the world’s largest bilateral trade and investment relationship.”

Of the Resolution, Sen. Lee said, “The United States and the United Kingdom are the closest of allies and the most natural of economic partners.  Since the British people have reclaimed the right to negotiate their own trade agreements, I have advocated for a robust trade agreement between our nations.  I am overjoyed and encouraged to see the Senate pass this resolution calling for such a mutually beneficial agreement.  Free trade between our nations would be good for Britons, for Americans, and particularly for Utahns who have such close economic ties to our friends across the pond.”