Rishi Sunak to push Joe Biden over post-Brexit trade in trip to US

The IRA is intended to shore up the US’s economic competitiveness, innovation and industrial productivity, setting aside a flagship £279billion to boost green technologies in the US.

UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch is among those British ministers to have labelled the act as ‘protectionist’ in propping up the US economy at the expense of its allies.

Discussing green technology on the plane to Washington DC, Sunak warned against “subsidy races”, and instead lauded the UK’s world-leading green credentials.

Sunak said: “Our record on this is very strong. We’ve created lots of jobs and reduced carbon faster than anybody else.”

He added: “In offshore wind we’re a global leader – not just the first, but the second, the third and the fourth largest offshore windfarms are all in the UK.”

Describing the UK’s early championing of decarbonisation as gaining “a head start over everybody,” Sunak is expected to lean on climate leadership in his discussions with Biden.

Sunak is also expected to stress the close military relationship between the UK and the US in Ukraine, and promote Britain as a “nimble” regulator of AI.

Sunak said “The UK and US have always worked in lockstep to protect our people and uphold our way of life. As the challenges and threats we face change, we need to build an alliance that also protects our economies.”

Speculation is rife over the outcomes from Sunak’s trip, with many expecting Britain to be offered a deal akin to that promised by Biden to Japan in March.

Such a deal would extend ‘clean vehicle tax credits’ to critical minerals extracted or processed in Britain, which could bolster the UK’s fledgling electric vehicle supply chain.

Sarah Elliott, board member and Spokesperson of Republicans Overseas UK, told GB News: “I think the special relationship is never over, because on the ground we’re so intertwined in a way that is actually quite the envy of our enemies.”

On Biden’s previous trip to the UK and Ireland, Elliott noted: “I don’t think Northern Ireland was incredibly successful, he’s always had more of an Irish EU bent, President Biden, but the UK, regardless of his bias-ness, is still the USA's best ally.”

John Redwood MP told GB News that it is "important not to give in over Northern Ireland and the Union where the President sides with the EU."

Though he thinks it is unlikely Biden will make any concessions, Redwood added: "We have a great trade and foreign policy relationship already based on years of joint working."

Sunak’s meeting with Biden at the White House on Thursday will be their fourth encounter in as many months.

The Prime Minister will be staying in Blair House, the official presidential guest residency, and will attend the baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Sunak had reportedly been limbering up to take the first pitch but No10 thought better of it.

On the plane, the Prime Minister insisted this was not the case: “I wasn’t actually meant to ever do it. Who is doing it is a veteran, a great UK veteran who you’ll hopefully get to see, who’s going to be fantastic and I actually think the most appropriate person to do it given the context of the game and what it celebrates.”

“As you guys know, my sport is more cricket than baseball in any case.”