U.K. completes Brexit; bilateral discussions ramp up

With the U.K.’s Jan. 29 exit from the European Union (EU) complete, bilateral trade discussions with the U.K., and separately with Ireland, are expected to resume. E.U. Commissioner Phil Hogan returned to Washington earlier this month for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to discuss ways to improve transatlantic ties as the threat of auto tariffs looms. These discussions are part of an ongoing effort to support a positive, bilateral transatlantic trade agenda launched by the European Union and the United States in July 2018.