World leaders establish US-UK taskforce on transatlantic travel
A US-UK taskforce has been established to review how “safe and sustainable ” transatlantic travel may resume between the two countries.
The agreement was set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Joe Biden in a new Atlantic Charter, on the eve of the G7 Summit, being held in Cornwall today.
The Charter is modelled on a joint agreement devised by Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, which set out their goals after the Second World War.
In a joint statement released by the two world leaders, Johnson and Biden said that they look forward to “normalizing two-way travel ” between the two countries, and the taskforce will share “expertise and provide recommendations to leaders on the return of safe and sustainable international travel ”.
Currently, the US is listed as an 'amber ' destination by the British Foreign Office, whereby travelers arriving from the country must self-isolate for 10 days on their arrival into the UK.
A presidential decree imposed last year mandated that non-US citizens who have travelled or been in the UK in the last 14 days are not permitted to enter the country.
As well as establishing a new travel taskforce, the charter also committed the countries to working together on defending democracy, furthering bilateral defense and security, develop a new technology partnership, strengthening its economic and trading ties, rallying all countries to bolster climate ambitions and reaffirming their commitment to Northern Ireland.
Commenting on Biden and Johnson 's first in person meeting, which took place yesterday, James Tait, vice-president of Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce and partner at law firm Browne Jacobson, said: “It is the first time the leaders have met in person and comments President Biden has made about Prime Minister Johnson, as well as his view on Brexit, provide an interesting and problematic starting point.
“Furthermore, Mr Johnson has made clear his disdain of the term “special relationship ” - but to be replaced by what?
“Importantly for business continuity and rekindling face to face relationships both here and in the US, Mr Johnson and President Biden are also expected to make recommendations on kick starting international travel.
“With many of our members still unclear on what the position is, which is impeding any real ability to make business trips, we are hopeful that we will soon know what likely timescales are.
“With the US/UK trade deal still to negotiate, the recent issues over trade with Northern Ireland will loom large over the discussions.
"The EU 's recent condemnation of the Government 's handling of Brexit will no doubt be at the fore of discussions between the two leaders and, in the interests of future US/UK trade, Mr Johnson will have to reconsider his positioning on the UK relationship with the EU and in particular Ireland if the trade agreement is given any significant priority by President Biden."