Rishi Sunak to visit Washington DC for talks with US President Joe Biden next week as they discuss Ukraine support
RISHI Sunak will visit Washington DC next week to hold major talks with US President Joe Biden.
On his first official visit to the city as PM, Mr Sunak will also meet members of congress and top American business leaders.
Talks will cover Russia's invasion of Ukraine, achieving net zero and sorting out the global economy.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The visit will be an opportunity to build on discussions the Prime Minister and President Biden have had in recent months on enhancing the level of co-operation and co-ordination between the UK and US on the economic challenges that will define our future, including securing our supply chains and transitioning to zero carbon economies.
"It will also be an opportunity to discuss issues including sustaining our support for Ukraine as we build on the success of our G7 summit in the run-up to the Nato summit."
Discussions of a free trade agreement aren't currently on the trip's agenda.
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But ministers hope specific trade issues will be addressed.
The UK has already signed individual agreements with the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana.
And officials hope Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and California will be next to sign a deal.
A No10 spokesperson said: “We know that no trade partnership is more important than the one we have with the US, it’s our largest trading partner.
“It’s worth remembering the trade relationship, as it currently stands, is worth £279 billion already. We have achieved all of that without an FTA."
Mr Sunak and Mr Biden have met on multiple occasions, most recently in Japan for the G7 summit.
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In March Mr Sunak flew to San Diego for talks with Mr Biden and Australian leader Anthony Albanese to agree the Aukus submarine pact.
And the PM and President also met in Belfast in April to discuss the Windsor Framework and 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.