State Department

The Biden administration this week signaled interest in continuing efforts to boost trade and economic engagement with Brazil, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Brazilian counterpart holding introductory talks and the White House saying it hopes to grow trade between the two countries in the coming months.

Trade negotiations between the U.S. and Switzerland were “stalled” by the pandemic as well as by Brexit-related complications and the U.S. presidential race, the former U.S. ambassador said this week, revealing that the negotiations were set to be a focus if former President Trump had won a second term.

The department cited the transition to the Biden administration in announcing it had scrapped all travel plans this week, including Secretary Pompeo’s trip to Europe.

Juster, calling for a broad trade deal with the U.S., said India can become “an alternative destination for manufacturing investments” if it takes “further action.”

Following a recent U.S.-Taiwan economic dialogue, Taipei’s envoy to Washington, Bi-khim Hsiao, on Monday said a trade deal between the two countries was “a logical next step.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talked trade during meetings with high-level officials in India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia this week, stressing U.S. hopes for stronger economic ties throughout the region -- and Jakarta in particular.

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab met with administration officials and lawmakers on Wednesday in an attempt to ease concerns over the Good Friday Agreement as the UK tries to ensure trade talks with the U.S. are not deterred by a Brexit fallout.

Mohammad Lutfi reportedly predicted negotiations on a deal “to exempt products to the U.S. that have duties below 5 percent without having to go through Congress.”