Nancy Pelosi shoots down John Bolton's enthusiastic embrace of a no-deal Brexit
On Monday, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton emerged from a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson with a message about Britain's exit from the European Union, which appears increasingly likely to happen without a divorce agreement in place. Economists say a no-deal Brexit would be really bad for Britain, but "if that's the decision of the British government we will support it enthusiastically, and that's what I'm trying to convey," Bolton said. "We're with you, we're with you." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was notably less enthusiastic.
President Trump wants to see a successful Brexit and is eager to help cushion the financial impact by negotiating a free trade pact, Bolton said, and it could be implemented on a "sector-by-sector" basis." An agreement or "series of agreements" could be hammered out "very quickly, very straightforwardly," he added, predicting there would be enthusiastic bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress to quickly ratify any of these trade deals.
Sector-by-sector trade deals would almost certainly violate World Trade Organization rules, BBC economics correspondent Andrew Walker writes, but there's also a "substantial body of American legislators who would likely vote against any deal if they thought that Brexit had taken place in a way that posed a danger to the peace process and the open border on the island of Ireland," as a no-deal Brexit presumably would.
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.
In a statement issued after Bolton's remarks, Pelosi reiterated that "whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the Good Friday Agreement, including the seamless border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland," and "if Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be no chance of a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement passing the Congress. The peace of the Good Friday Agreement is treasured by the American people and will be fiercely defended on a bicameral and bipartisan basis in the United States Congress."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Georgia's new foreign influence bill
Under the Radar Critics claim the 'Russian law' could stifle dissent and wreck the country's chances of joining the EU
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published