Crystal clear from our time in #WashingtonDC that US trade agenda is getting harder not easier We’re going to have to get more creative. And think harder about a new agenda for trade with Europe Here’s five ways forward for the next Labour Govt: 🧵

And if we’re honest the whole signing free trade agreements thing - that some promised would be so easy - has proved rather harder than some thought

Much of the free trade argument was predicated on a deal with the US - which is simply not going to happen anytime soon - and a ‘tilt’ to the Indo-Pacific. Yet while #CPTPP IS important, lots of the exciting numbers for growth in Indo-Pacific include China, from where derisking…

So. Rethinking the strategic relationship with Europe is now vital for a post election summit with I hope, Keir Starmer and the new EU President. And our talks in Brussels show there’s a huge trade diplomacy agenda to go for. 5/.

But: that requires us thinking NOW about: - Our strategy for UK growth / growth targets - The contribution to growth we seek to secure from trade - What we hope trade with Europe would contribute to this number - the cooperation with Europe we need in order to deliver this…