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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To question what Biden's win means for any UK trade deals (economy)?

274 replies

Officebox · 07/11/2020 21:03

I'm delighted about Joe Biden's and Kamala Harris' election win! Great news! The world seems to be happy about this result too! Yay!!! Smile

However, reading reports about the future of UK and US relations following this change in power at the White House, AIBU to be a bit worried for Britain? Confused

The UK is in the middle of Brexit trade negotiations that will impact the economy. Can/will the Biden win impact trade negotiation deals one way or another?

Boris Johnson congratulates Joe Biden on US election win 'Special relationship' may face downgrade...

"They won't be seen as natural allies: Joe Biden, the seasoned Democrat, and Boris Johnson, the bombastic Brexiteer.
In looking at how their future relationship might work, it's worth considering the past. Specifically that seminal year, 2016, when Donald Trump won the White House and the UK voted to leave the EU. Both Mr Biden and his boss at the time, Barack Obama, made no secret they preferred another outcome on Brexit." - Jessica Parker, Political Correspondent

A special relationship or back of the queue: What could a Biden or Trump victory mean for the UK economy after Brexit?

Brexit and the US election: What the Trump v Biden result could mean for the UK

And many more...

What's everyone else's thoughts?

OP posts:
MindyStClaire · 08/11/2020 08:27

Im sorry Mindy but you do not speak for everyone here. I am in the North of Ireland. Johnson is not my PM and this is not his country.

This isn't the place for a discussion on the constitutional position of NI, and indeed both DH and I are from nationalist backgrounds, DH and DC have Irish passports etc (I'm from ROI originally). I genuinely didn't mean my post in an offensive way. But the fact is that legally we are part of the UK now, whatever your preference for the future. Johnson is legally our PM, the Taoiseach has no legal standing. Johnson conveniently forgets the full name of his political party, he's supposed to be a unionist. It's flat out disgusting that he cares so little for a country he's supposed to be ruling, that has endured so much hurt already.

clearedfortakeoff · 08/11/2020 08:37

As people have already stated, Biden will hold Britain accountable with complying with international law (GFA). I personally see that as a good thing as Boris seems to believe he is above the law. He won't be happy.

Peridot2020 · 08/11/2020 09:00

Actually, @LordLancington, I'll be ecstatic (if astonished) if anything much can be salvaged from the Brexit Trainwreck. Except maybe a Unicorn Sanctuary in Kent, right next to the portaloos and the Nigel Farage Memorial Car Park.

On the subject of the US election, I've seen headlines the last couple of days saying that Biden isn't a friend to the UK. He's not a fan of BJ. That's rather different, though I rather think he'll have bigger fish to fry than this isolated little group of islands. We're just lucky we share a mother tongue with the United States, otherwise we'd probably have been consigned to our rightful place in the atlas long before this.

I still don't think Leavers understand, or ever have understood, what a daft decision it has been to deliberately leave the biggest trading bloc in the world and what the real implications are.

The EU is not perfect; nothing is. I made my decision based on rationally looking at imports and exports, of services and people, not just of goods. Where goods are concerned, this applies especially to fresh produce. Just take a walk round Tesco, virtually if necessary, to see what percentage of our fresh food comes in through the ports, and how much of the rest is harvested by, say, Eastern Europeans in Lincolnshire, Devon, etc.

And then do the same for medicines; just have a look at where paracetamol, say, is actually manufactured, not packaged. And then have a look at your local hospital, and check out how many registered nurses, in particular, are immigrants, and paying us handsomely for the privilege.

And then take a look at how many large institutions, including banks, are removing themselves from England, either to Ireland, or to mainland Europe.

sashagabadon · 08/11/2020 09:08

@PicsInRed

Pushing a newly independent UK, perched between Europe and the US like an enormous earthy aircraft carrier, desperately into the trading arms of China, probably isn't what Biden and the US want right now.

They're not stupid. They'll deal.

Agree with this. I think Corona has been good for Brexit. It has made the west sit up and consider that China may not be the Bennie influence it purports to be and the west needs to stick together more. I think it improves the chances of us/ U.K. deal. And a trump us/ U.K. would be worse for the U.K. as trump does not think strategically just about winning. Hopefully Biden will be more pragmatic. I think we in the U.K. underplay our significance in the world. Not a world leader but geographically important, and still retain some influence. It’s why China was so keen to build our nuclear power stations, it gives confidence to other countries if we allow it and was a gateway for them into Europe building power stations for everyone.
Helmetbymidnight · 08/11/2020 09:36

why would the US (or indeed any country) give the UK terms significantly better trading terms than they have now, and better than the rest of the Eu, when the UK has shown it doesnt care about int law and when the gfa hangs in the balance?

talk me through this...

MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes · 08/11/2020 09:39

How are we geographically important? I’m not convinced, unless you particularly want the UK to be an offshore tax haven and springboard for Europe’s organised crime syndicates. I’ve never seen the sense in swapping a perfectly good cooperative role in Europe for that of an occasional flag-of-convenience 3rd world hole, and I hope Brexiteers will remember who put us there. I certainly will.

NullcovoidNovember · 08/11/2020 09:43

I've read they won't force us to accept sub standard food which is good and now more than ever they belive we need good quality food.

I don't think much will change at all and certainly not from a nation that fought for autonomy from the UK 🇬🇧, 😂😂😂

workhomesleeprepeat · 08/11/2020 09:47

I think there is a huge underestimation in the UK of the relationship between Ireland and the US, that is especially true under Biden. He won’t let anyone mess with the GFA, and probably doesn’t think a lot of the (racist) comments Boris made about Obama having something against the UK because he is part Kenyan and it was a colony Hmm

Saying that, Trump probably would have thrown the UK under a bus trade deal wise, I don’t think the UK would have gotten this amazing deal they think they were going to under him. Besides, should we even want that? US food standards are very low

sashagabadon · 08/11/2020 09:57

I mean literally the uk’s geography. Where we are located in the world. Nothing to do with being a tax haven. Close to mainland Europe and in between China and the US. Northern hemisphere, GMT, English Channel is one of the busiest trading routes in the world and a major route for other countries that want to avoid the more perilous North Sea. Our geography is literally how we got our empire, our navy could sail anywhere in the world relatively easily. Our climate too, our ports never freeze over unlike say Russia. Freezing ports is why Russia annexed Crimea, they wanted to keep access to Crimeas port as it does not freeze over. Things like that matter still even in a digital world. The US / Europe will not want to see the English Channel for example falling under china’s control as theUK has been forced to do a trade deal with China that includes control of the English Channel. I know that sounds hyperbole, but these things are all part of strategic thinking for the future, for years and years ahead like a chess game. The U.K. is still an important strategic partner for the US and we still retain this influence in part because of our geography, nothing to do with how much Biden likes or does not like Boris. That is irrelevant.
We have created a vaccine for Covid that the r world wants. We still have soft power.

Helmetbymidnight · 08/11/2020 10:01

so you think the us will give an incredibly favourable trade deal to the uk, excellent enough to compensate for the loss of free trade with much of the world, far superior to the deal they have with the eu, and they dont care about gfa or our law breaking?

more brexiteer logic im afraid.

MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes · 08/11/2020 10:06

I don’t believe that at this point in time China has any notion of a physical presence in the Channel, not until the ice caps melt sufficiently that a northern route becomes a reliable option, and at that point we will all have many bigger problems to deal with. Russia is more of an issue, but not a great threat right now. As you say, geography matters. Resources matter. There is a reason we are reliant on trade. If I was the US I’d be looking to France and building the traditional Portugal /Spain / Netherlands powers. This is delusional lunacy.

TheNewLook · 08/11/2020 10:07

I think it’s concerning that Biden was such a friend to the IRA in the past. He will not be interested in promoting the UK’s interests. All those rejoicing his win today might want to consider what it means for their home country and its post-Brexit status in the world.

Trouble is, Remainers are self-harmers who would rather a left-wing US presidency that screws the UK than fight for post-Brexit success. Because if Britain thrives they won’t be able to say “told you so”.

Biden is morally a better option for President, of course. But the UK was much better off with Trump.

TheNewLook · 08/11/2020 10:09

We're just lucky we share a mother tongue with the United States, otherwise we'd probably have been consigned to our rightful place in the atlas long before this

This is exactly what I mean by self-harmers.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 08/11/2020 10:10

The U.K. was much better off with Trump!🤣🤣🤣🤣are you for real?!

Boris will have to reconsider his nasty little Brexit now Biden is president elect. And he was holding out for the result before he stepped up any negotiations.

MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes · 08/11/2020 10:11

And swapping a solid cooperative role in the EU for something so dependent on the changing political climate of a foreign power on the other side of a major world ocean was such a brilliant idea, yes? Are you seriously trying to blame Remainers in the UK for an American presidential selection now?

bellinisurge · 08/11/2020 10:15

Can't wait to see the grovelling. Turns out Obama was right, we will be back if the queue.
We are lucky that Biden is big on reconciliation but he won't forget the "Obama hates us because he's half Kenyan" shit that Johnson came out with.
Then, of course, there's this

twitter.com/belfastagmt/status/1325148733563052032?s=24

😂😂

MushMonster · 08/11/2020 10:15

When is Biden actually taking over the White House officially?
Because Boris has only a few days to stamp his signature in the exit treaty, and then he will have to follow that and international law... even if he tries not to!
Not sure he has ever chatted with Biden yet.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 08/11/2020 10:17

I think it’s 20th Jan.

But Boris will have to step up, everything will need to work when Biden becomes president.

Trumps last gasp won’t count.

TheNewLook · 08/11/2020 10:18

Are you seriously trying to blame Remainers in the UK for an American presidential selection now?

Unless they had a vote, no. Not quite sure how you’ve come up with that.

These posts make very clear how much some of you hate your own country and want to see it suffer.

Helmetbymidnight · 08/11/2020 10:21

Trouble is, Remainers are self-harmers who would rather a left-wing US presidency that screws the UK than fight for post-Brexit success.

Grin more brexiteer logic im afraid.

um who are the self-harmers again?

Chapterx · 08/11/2020 10:32

So Brexit being shit is the fault of: remain voters, the EU and the US president. Not the people who actually went and voted leave? Sure it is @TheNewLook

bellinisurge · 08/11/2020 10:36

Don't hate my country but I want to see Leavers own their shit.

Lonelycrab · 08/11/2020 10:37

All those rejoicing his win today might want to consider what it means for their home country and its post-Brexit status in the world

Trump is and was an awful human being. If success hinges on sucking up to people like him, isn’t it time to actually stop and ponder the notion it might have actually been a bad idea to put all your eggs in such a rotten basket?

No, of course not. It’s other people’s fault for not believing hard enough, I see Confused

Lonelycrab · 08/11/2020 10:39

Morning Boris! Morning Garage! Morning Dommy boy!

Lovely day isn’t it!

anniegun · 08/11/2020 10:47

Trump would have screwed the UK in any trade deal just because he could. Biden will have a strategy to protect the GF agreement and that will have to be factored into a deal. So it might make the UK make some more sensible decisions