UK and US to hold trade talks after Brexit

Britain said Wednesday it will hold a series of talks with the United States, as it seeks to pin down a long-awaited trade deal with the world's biggest economy after Brexit.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Britain's International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan will hold discussions in Baltimore on March 21-22 and in the UK in the coming weeks, the government said in a statement.

The dialogues "will explore how the United States and United Kingdom can collaborate to advance mutual international trade priorities rooted in our shared values", it added.

London has negotiated a host of international trade deals since formally leaving the European Union on January 1, 2021, but a deal with Washington has so far proved elusive.

The talks come after US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year adopted a new "Atlantic Charter".

Trade between the close allies stands at approximately £200 billion ($261 billion, 238 billion euros) a year.

"I am pleased to welcome Secretary Trevelyan to Baltimore later this month as we begin an open-minded and deep discussion on how we can advance smarter and more strategic trade between our two countries," said Tai in the statement.