What To Look For When Prime Minister Theresa May, President Donald Trump Meet

By Peter Snaith and Jim Kearney

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has secured the coveted first meeting between President Trump and a foreign head of government.  Among the goals of each leader in this meeting will be setting a course for a future UK-US trade deal.  The policies of each of Prime Minister May and President Trump will be on the line in this first meeting, with Prime Minister May seeking to demonstrate the UK’s ability to strike favorable trade arrangements in the post-Brexit era and President Trump seeking to establish the viability of his “America First” policies on the global economic stage.  The fortunes of businesses and investors in both countries are also on the line, and as the details of any bilateral trade understanding begin to take shape they will need to understand how their commercial interests will likely be affected and how they can position themselves to protect their interests and capitalize on new opportunities.

The two leaders begin in broad agreement on their preference for bilateral rather than multilateral trade deals, and the UK will undoubtedly be keen to be at the front of the queue for trade talks with the Trump Administration.  However, to benefit from any Trump-led tide in favor of bilateral deals the UK may have to consider steps that would conflict with its continuing obligations as a member of the European Union and increase the risk of a "hard" Brexit.

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