Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nigel Huddleston and Boris Johnson

Tuesday 28th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mims Davies (Eastleigh) (Con)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on strengthening the diplomatic relationship between the UK and the US.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson)]

I had a series of excellent meetings last week at the White House, the State Department and elsewhere with Secretary of State Tillerson, Vice-President Pence and others. We discussed areas of common interest and shared objectives on Syria, Russia, NATO, global free trade and other questions.

[Nigel Huddleston]

There are 212,000 Americans living in the UK and 715,000 Brits living in America. Americans, when visiting the UK, spend more than visitors from any other nation. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that this shows that the special relationship is very much alive?

[Boris Johnson]

This is a long-standing extraordinary relationship that goes from strength to strength. Hon. Members may know that last year exports to the United States rose by 20%. It is the absolute determination of the new US Administration to do a free trade deal that will take those trade figures even further forward.