US Trade Representative Lighthizer tells Ways and Means Committee @replloyddoggett its “almost impossible” any UK-US trade deal could be brought for Congressional approval before the US election in Nov... and possible though unlikely that there would be any agreement in that time

But @USTR Lighthizer extremely interesting on a variety of issues touching on UK trade deal... said there was a long long way to go - best case end of next week they might have 2 chapters out of 32 in trade deal. On the upside he thinks a deal will be down, but question is “when”

US Trade Rep: Some agricultural issues “the US & US Congress would not accept in a trade deal & if they [the UK] insist on those then we will have to push this off until they don’t”...“one thing for sure we’re not going to be in a position where our farmers aren’t treated fairly”

Which is the US Trade Rep pretty clearly saying that whatever is current on table in private negotiations as regards UK safeguards on US farm imports is enough to delay a trade deal indefinitely, and will have to be dropped, if a deal is to be done...

USTR - in second round “hasn’t been an enormous amount that has happened yet... anticipates 32 chapters - maximum 2 done if at all by end of week - so detail on the speed of lack thereof...