Should the House Call For a Trade Deal With Britain and Express Support For the Special Relationship? (H. Res. 60)

What is H. Res. 60?

(Updated July 28, 2020)

This resolution would reaffirm the strength and endurance of the special relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom in addition to calling for a bilateral free-trade agreement between America and Britain. It also expresses respect for the decision of British voters to remove their country from the European in the “Brexit” and recognizes that the vote won’t diminish the importance of the bond between the governments and people of the U.S. and Britain.

The U.S. Trade Representative would be instructed to immediately begin negotiations with the United Kingdom over a North Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (NATIP) between the two countries.

As a simple resolution, this bill wouldn’t advance beyond the House if passed and wouldn’t have the force of law.

Argument in favor

Great Britain is one of America’s oldest allies, and in the wake of the British people’s decision to leave the European Union it would be wise for Congress to reaffirm the Special Relationship between the two countries and call for negotiations over a trade agreement.

Argument opposed

The U.S. and Great Britain will always have a Special Relationship, Congress doesn’t need to reaffirm that. Calling for negotiations over a trade deal between the two countries may be premature at this stage, and besides, this resolution isn’t even binding.

Impact

Congress; the U.S. Trade Representative; and the people and governments of the U.S. and United Kingdom.

Cost of H. Res. 60

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) re-introduced this legislation to urge the Trump administration to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Great Britain:

“As our close friends and allies in the United Kingdom work through the process of implementing Brexit and separating from the European Union’s single market, we must take action to demonstrate our steadfast support and maintain our strong transatlantic ties. Congress and the current administration have a responsibility to foster the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., which has been built on shared history and values, a common language, and mutual trust. The economic security of our two great nations is greatly dependent on our ability to maintain fair and regular trade relations.”

This legislation has the support of 20 cosponsors in the House, all of whom are Republicans. Rep. Dent introduced a nearly identical version of this legislation during the last Congress, but it never received a vote in the House.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) Press Release
  
• CNN (Context)