Overview

• President Joe Biden has decided not to move forward with a 'foundational' trade agreement with the UK, which could have paved the way for a full post-Brexit trade deal.
• Senate Democrats opposed the deal, arguing that it would not provide sufficient protection for American workers.
• The UK's hopes for a free trade agreement with the US, which date from before the Brexit referendum, have now fallen to 'zero' under the Biden administration.
• The proposed deal was expected to include negotiations over 11 areas of trade and regulation, and was seen as a 'roadmap' to a full free trade agreement.
• Major sticking points included the UK's refusal to accept chlorine-washed chicken, a major demand of US officials, and Biden's concern about the impact of any deal on his 'Bidenomics' policy, which aims to protect American industry from imported goods.