U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai poses for her official portrait Thursday, May 6, 2021, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Stephanie Chasez)

(ND Ag Connection) – While discussions on a U.S.-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have been put on hold, the two countries agreed to begin talks next week on a trade and investment agreement.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan are set to meet in Baltimore March 21-22, with a second session in the coming months in the United Kingdom.

The first Joint U.K.-U.S. Dialogues on the Future of Atlantic Trade will include senior representatives from government entities and business sectors.

The two sides are seeking to boost trade between the countries, including by resolving the issue of U.S. duties on British steel and U.K. retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products. Tai and Trevelyan also are expected to discuss how the countries can work together on digital and green trade.