After Trump received the U.S. presidential election final month, Mandelson advised the Instances Britain can “have our cake and eat it” on commerce, constructing nearer ties with each the EU and U.S. relatively than selecting between them.
It’s a coverage space the subsequent ambassador to the U.S. will spend a lot of their time negotiating, with U.Okay. hopes of lastly securing a commerce deal balanced by fears Trump will perform his threats to impose tariffs.
Dan Mullaney, a former assistant U.S. commerce consultant below Trump and different presidents, who crossed paths with Mandelson in Brussels, agreed along with his evaluation that the U.Okay. wouldn’t essentially want to decide on between nearer ties with Washington or Brussels.
“I don’t suppose it’s essentially a binary alternative,” he stated. “You’ll be able to have deeper integration with the U.S. that’s per a deeper integration with the EU.”
Mullaney, now a senior fellow on the Atlantic Council suppose tank, argued the Labour peer may very well be properly positioned as a middle-man between the U.Okay. and U.S. on commerce.
“Having somebody from the U.Okay. right here in Washington who is aware of all three methods — the EU system, the U.Okay. system, and is aware of the US and is aware of commerce — I feel that’s a really helpful talent set for the challenges which can be to return,” he stated.
