White House Official-No Discussion Of FTA Expected On Biden NI Trip

Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council Amanda Sloat states that she does not expect that US President Joe Biden will discuss a free trade arrangement with the UK on his whistle-stop visit to Northern Ireland. Despite no FTA talk, Sloat states that, "We're continuously looking for ways to deepen economic engagement with the UK,' adding that "Biden's visit will underscore [the] readiness of the US to engage further in economic investment in Northern Ireland."

• Sloat adds that, as would be expected, Biden and UK PM Rishi Sunak will discuss the latest developments in Ukraine. On the leaked Pentagon docs Sloat states that the US 'has been having engagements with a broad number of allies and partners.'
• Biden is set to deliver an address at Ulster University at around 1300BST (0800ET, 1400CET) marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. Prior to this he will hold a short meeting with Sunak and meet with the leaders of Northern Ireland's five main political parties in an effort to encourage them to return to the power-sharing executive.
• Link to Biden address livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d7cRiwNtm0&embeds...