British PM Johnson Promises to Drive Hard Bargain With Trump

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Monday promised to drive a hard bargain with President Donald Trump in their upcoming trade talks, saying he wants to open opportunities for British businesses and investors while promising the UK's National Health System is not for sale. 

There are deep concerns among the British electorate that the United States will want access to the country's universal health care system, reports The Guardian, but the government said in a press release it is committed to keeping the health service free at the point of use. 

The team said it also wants to continue guaranteeing high standards and protections for consumers and workers and for animal welfare. 

“Trading Scottish smoked salmon for Stetson hats, we will deliver lower prices and more choice for our shoppers," said Johnson. "This transatlantic trade deal will reflect the unique closeness of our two great nations.”

However, the countries are clashing over Johnson's decision allowing Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei access to the country's 5G system, despite US contentions that it would give the Chinese government too much access to online systems.

Ministers are also facing demands that would rule out hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken from being imported from the United States. 

Meanwhile, union leaders are calling on Johnson and Downing Street not to "cozy up" to Trump during the talks, and to block any maneuvering that would lower food standards. 

The negotiating rounds will alternate between the two countries, and UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said such trade agreements is one of the main opportunities for Britain after becoming an independent trading nation, and that it will "will cut red tape for our small businesses, cut tariffs for our great products from dairy to cars and increase growth in all four nations.”

• EU-UK Trade Talks Kick off amid Threats and Deadlines
• UK Opens EU Trade Talks with Threat to Walk Away