"Regulatory barriers likely to be contentious and most significant obstacles to UK-US trade"

"Regulatory barriers likely to be contentious and most significant obstacles to UK-US trade". Standards and technical regulations are likely to be the most significant - and potentially contentious - obstacles to a UK-US trade deal, according leading trade experts. Published today (12 July), the latest briefing paper by the UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) at the University of Sussex states the UK faces a challenge in whether it stays with EU regulation, moves towards the US approach or tries a pick-and-mix approach of its own. The research, conducted in conjunction with trade experts from the Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and Walsh School of Foreign Service, shows initial public support is likely to favour signing a trade deal. However, the US and UK trade experts state the UK government should not assume its public will be happy to admit more GMO foods, hormone-treated meat, and other products currently restricted or banned. The study, which explores the public support for, the benefits of, and the key obstacles to a transatlantic agreement might be, is entitled, ' The Future of US-UK Trade: What case for a bilateral trade agreement? ' . It comes ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May this Friday.