The State Department is walking back President Obama’s comment in April that a decision by Britain to leave the European Union would mean that country gets sent to the “back of the queue” when it comes to a trade agreement with the U.S.
Obama’s remarks in April seemed aimed at convincing voters that they should vote against the referendum to leave the EU. But after Britain’s 52-48 vote to leave, the State Department has signaled over the last 24 hours that Obama’s threat was empty.
Late Tuesday, Kerry said in Colorado that the U.S. would likely try to finish a long-negotiated EU trade deal at the same time as it finishes a now-necessary U.S.-UK deal.
“I think given what has happened, the president is going to try and do both at the same time,” Kerry said. “He knows how to multitask.”
On Wednesday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner confirmed that the government has jettisoned Obama’s plan to put Britain on a second tier.
“I don’t want to get into parsing the president’s remarks before the Brexit vote,” Toner said. “In the aftermath of the vote, I think we’re looking at all aspects of this.”
“Of course we want a strong Britain,” he added.
Toner also said explicitly that the prospect of a U.S.-EU trade deal that leaves Britain behind is something that is weighing heavily on the minds of those in the government.
“As we move beyond the Brexit vote, we’re looking at how to balance all of these different aspects if this separation does happen,” Toner said. “And one of the most important is obviously trade, and the stability of the markets, and we’re mindful of that, of course we are.”
Toner said of Kerry’s remark about doing both deals together, “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“We do have to be able to do both,” he added.
