During a three-day visit to the United Kingdom, President Obama discussed trade relations with the country during a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron. As British people debate and eventually vote on whether to remain or separate from the European Union, Obama made it clear to Cameron that he would not be happy with an eventual Brexit.
In part, President Obama said the following:
“Maybe some point down the line, there might be a U.K-U.S. trade agreement, but it’s not going to happen any time soon because our focus is in negotiating with a big block of European Union to get a trade agreement done. And the U.K is going to be in the back of the queue.”
In response to Obama’s comments, British Prime Minister David Cameron said, “This is our choice, nobody else’s. The sovereign choice of the British people. But as we make that choice, it surely makes sense to listen to listen to what our friends think … and that’s what Barack’s been talking about today.”
Perhaps the most interesting part of the exchange was the fact that the president was smiling as he made the somewhat veiled threat.
Brits in favor of exiting the E.U. believe the move is in the country’s best financial interest. Severing from the union would allow for Britain to have more control over its trade agreements as well as enable the country to free itself from the tight regulatory environment that the E.U. requires. Opponents of the Brexit believe that the E.U. would try to make things difficult for Britain and in order to discourage future countries from breaking away.
Watch President Obama’s complete remarks about the potential Brexit below:
Featured image via YouTube
