“Friends of Ireland” caucus threatens to block uk-us trade deal

In the ongoing struggle between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU negotiators over the terms of Brexit, Johnson’s backup plan has consistently been to seek increased trade with the United States should a no-deal Brexit stifle trade with the EU.

Despite President Trump’s fondness for Johnson, however, a 54-member Congressional caucus now threatens to block any such trade deal if Johnson continues with current plans to scrap the Irish backstop and threaten the Good Friday agreement between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The Friends of Ireland caucus, co-chaired by Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) and Pete King (R-New York), has the power to hold up any US-UK trade deal indefinitely, much as Trump’s USMCA deal with Mexico and Canada has yet to be ratified.

A sizeable Irish-American population in many swing states could also make relations with the UK and Ireland a contentious issue in upcoming US elections.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi warned back in April that any attack on the Good Friday Agreement would mean “no chance whatsoever” of a trade agreement with the UK passing through the House of Representatives.