Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Johnson hails lifting of US travel ban but says trade deal progress unlikely

Johnson hails lifting of US travel ban but says trade deal progress unlikely

PM plays down prospects for a breakthrough as he prepares to head to the White House
Boris Johnson hailed Joe Biden’s decision to lift the US travel ban on Monday as he prepared to head to the White House, but said progress on a post-Brexit trade deal was unlikely, because the president has “a lot of fish to fry”.

Johnson appeared blindsided by the lifting of the travel ban, having played down the prospects for a breakthrough en route to the US, telling reporters: “I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

Downing Street sought to claim credit for news that the UK is among the scores of countries whose citizens will now be able to travel to the US if they are double-vaccinated.

Johnson said bilateral “travel taskforce,” which has been meeting fortnightly since the summer, had been “hard at it”. But his spokesperson was unable to say how it had added any value, given that the new rules apply equally to many other countries.

The White House announced on Monday that the US would allow fully vaccinated passengers from the UK and most European Union (EU) countries to travel into the country from early November. The move signalled the end of a travel ban imposed by Donald Trump more than 18 months ago, in the early stages of the pandemic.

In addition to the UK and the 26 Schengen countries in Europe, the easing of restrictions will apply to Ireland, China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa and India.

It was welcomed by Johnson, who tweeted: “It’s a fantastic boost for business and trade, and great that family and friends on both sides of the pond can be reunited once again.”

No 10 is keen to showcase the warmth of relations between the prime minister and Biden, as well as the strong investment links between the two countries, when the pair meet in Washington on Tuesday. But Johnson, who had previously boasted of the prospects for a transatlantic trade deal, told journalists it now appeared unlikely to be imminent.

“The reality is that Joe has a lot of fish to fry. He’s got a huge infrastructure package, he’s got a build back better package. We want to do it, but what we want is a good free trade agreement. And I would much rather get a deal that really works for the UK than get a quick deal.”

With the travel ban no longer on the agenda, the two leaders are expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the climate crisis, and the need to expand vaccination to developing countries.

Johnson will also meet Biden’s deputy, Kamala Harris, and congressional leaders, before having dinner with Australian president, Scott Morrison, at the Australian ambassador’s residence, after the pair signed the Aukus defence deal last week.

Despite the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer, which saw the UK unsuccessfully implore Washington to delay its departure, Johnson insisted en route to the US that “our relations with the USA are about as good as they have been at any time in decades”.

Former US president Barack Obama sparked controversy during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016 by claiming that leaving the EU would put the UK at “the back of the queue” in trade negotiations with the US.

Johnson, who was mayor of London at the time, while Biden was vice-president, hit back with a comment piece in which he attributed Obama’s hostility to the fact that he was “part Kenyan”.

Under current policy, only US citizens, their immediate families, green card holders and those with national interest exemptions (NIE) can travel into the US if they have been in the UK or EU in the previous two weeks.

The White House coronavirus response coordinator, Jeff Zients, said on Monday that international travellers would require proof of full vaccination before boarding a flight and a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours before departure. They will not be required to quarantine upon arrival.

There will be some exceptions to the vaccine policy, including for children not yet eligible to be vaccinated. The new rules do not yet apply to travellers crossing land borders with Mexico and Canada.

“This new international travel system follows the science to keep Americans and international air travel safe,” Zients told reporters. “By requiring foreign nationals to be fully vaccinated in order to fly to the United States and in implementing additional strict safety protocols, we will protect Americans here at home and enhance the safety of international travel. This is based on individuals rather than a country-based approach.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
The Saudi Kingdom's Ultimatum to Israel: A Win-Win Peace with Saudi Arabia and the Arab World, or a Lose-Lose Continued Occupation and Endless Conflict
Biden condemns anti-Arab hate after WSJ opinion piece calls Dearborn ‘jihad capital’
Turkey Releases Seven Hostages Captured by Pro-Gaza Gunman
Arab Parliament Commends Women's Contributions to Societal Development
British and Hungarian Foreign Ministers visited Lebanese leaders to stress the importance of enacting UN Resolution 1701
Yemen's Houthis Say They Targeted British Merchant Vessel In Red Sea
Donald Trump Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for 'Historic' Middle East Policy
US lawmakers approve F-16 jet sale to Turkey following NATO expansion support
Saudi Arabia Climbs 25 Places in World Bank's National Statistics Indicator
Tourism Growth in Saudi Arabia Fuels Advancements in the Hospitality Industry," Says Rotana Official
Houthi Rebels Request Departure of UN Staff from Yemen, Including US and UK Personnel, within a Month
Modi Inaugurates Hindu Temple on Site of Demolished Mosque in India
Over 25,000 Deaths in Gaza Amid Israeli Offensive
Escalating Clashes in Gaza as Israel Distributes Leaflets to Assist in Locating Hostages
Turkey's First Astronaut Set to Launch for International Space Station Today
Head of Palestinian Investment Fund Warns More People May Die of Hunger Than War in Gaza
Palestinian Envoy Criticizes UK for Alleged 'Double Standards' in Policies Toward Israel
Morocco to Lead UN Human Rights Council in 2024
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Egypt has been identified as the leading military force among Arab nations and ranks 15th globally
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Iranian Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Receives Additional Prison Sentence
"Gazans Urge Israeli Forces to Target Hamas in Leaked Audio"
Biden States US and UK Airstrikes on Houthis Were a 'Defensive Action
Large Pro-Palestine Rally in London as Gaza Conflict Hits Day 100
South Africa Urges World Court to Halt Israeli Actions in Gaza
×