Radical right-wing US-UK post-Brexit trade plan revealed
Think tanks linked to Trump and Liam Fox want foreign competition in NHS and regulations bonfire

A radical blueprint for a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and US has proposed the NHS be opened up to foreign competition, a bonfire of consumer and environmental regulations and freedom of movement between the two countries for workers.
The report prepared by the Initiative for Free Trade (IFT), a think tank founded by the long-time Eurosceptic MEP Daniel Hannan and the Cato Institute, a right-wing libertarian think tank in the US founded and funded by the fossil fuel magnates and major political donors the Koch family, is set to form the basis of a push by prominent Brexiteers to persuade the prime minister to ditch her Chequers Brexit plan.
As well as its high-profile cheerleaders, The Guardian says “the blueprint will be seen as significant because of the close links between the organisations behind it and the UK secretary for international trade, Liam Fox, and the US president, Donald Trump”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The authors argue for a free trade agreement that would liberalise government controls on capital and data flows, remove tariffs and water down precautionary principles that have guided much EU regulation on GM foods, chlorine-washed chicken, pesticides and chemicals in cosmetics.
Amy Mount of the Greener UK coalition said the new proposals amounted to “a depressing vision for our future”, adding that “flooding our supermarkets with chlorinated chicken, undercutting our farmers and lowering environmental standards would be a strange way to take back control”.
BusinessGreen says the paper “will be of particular concern to environmental campaigners given the influence the authors and associated think tanks wield within Washington and Westminster”.
However, it is the proposals to effectively allow freedom of movement and open up the national health service to foreign private competition that are likely to prove the most contentious.
Even the IFT/Cato Institute acknowledged “any change to existing regulations would be extremely controversial,” and recommended testing the waters with foreign competition in education and legal services first.
Writing ahead of the official launch of the report in Washington on Tuesday, The Sun said that Treasury Minister Liz Truss “risks sparking controversy by visiting the [Cato Institute offices] later today - where she is expected to face questions over whether she supports the radical plan”.
Despite the report’s links to Liam Fox, the Department for International Trade have distanced themselves from the draft agreement, saying they had no hand in it.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Not there yet: The frustrations of the pocket AI
Feature Apple rushes to roll out its ‘Apple Intelligence’ features but fails to deliver on promises
By The Week US Published
-
George Foreman: The boxing champ who reinvented home grills
Feature He helped define boxing’s golden era
By The Week US Published
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
WHCA rejects White House press seating grab
Speed Read The White House Correspondents' Association objected to the Trump administration's bid to control where journalists sit during press briefings
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sends more migrants to El Salvador jail
Speed Read Another 17 Venezuelan alleged gang members have been deported to a notorious prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Law firms: Caving to White House pressure
Feature Trump targets major law firms tied to his past investigations
By The Week US Published
-
Rule of law: Are we in a constitutional crisis?
Feature Donald Trump defies federal court order to halt deportation flights to El Salvador
By The Week US Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland?
The Explainer Trump is not the only US president who has tried to gain control of Greenland
By The Week UK Published
-
What dangers does the leaked Signal chat expose the US to?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The White House's ballooning group chat scandal offered a masterclass in what not to say when prying eyes might be watching
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published