Voices of the Future: What will Joe Biden’s US election victory mean for the future of the UK?

Just over two weeks ago, former Vice President, Joe Biden, defeated President Trump in the 2020 US election - a historic win for the Democrats. It was an intense race, taking four long days for the eventual winner to be projected.

Donald Trump is the first incumbent President in 22 years not to be re-elected by the American people and he hasn’t taken it well.

Nearly a month on from the election, he is still refusing to concede, arguing that fraudulent postal votes cost him the election. 

Many voters chose to vote by post because of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the Democrats gaining five states from the Republicans.

But how will this affect the US and the UK?

The main consequence of the electoral result is an increased uncertainty over negotiating a trade deal with the US. We are currently in a transition period after leaving the EU so all attention now lies on our ability to forge trade links with the US.  

The deal is crucial as the UK currently trades with the US on EU terms, but this will change from next year.

After Joe Biden is sworn in, it is hoped that we will negotiate a deal to make it easier to trade between one another. Trump himself is all for a quick and easy trade deal, but it is uncertain what this deal may be, now that he will no longer be in power in the new year.

  It is not clear what deal Biden will negotiate or when a deal will be agreed.

A recent YouGov survey showed that 59 per cent of the British public believed the election result will have a large or fair amount of impact on a future deal. They also voted on which candidate as President would offer the better deal, with 28 per cent stating it would make no difference and 23 per cent to 24 per cent voting for Trump and Biden respectively. 

It looks like the British public is undecided over whether Trump or Biden would make a better President for our future trading relationship with the country. It will be up to Joe Biden and Boris Johnson to settle on an agreement later in the new year.

Another major discussion to be had between the two countries is over the price of medication.

Currently experts decide how much the NHS pay for drugs from the US, but now the US pharmaceutical businesses want more say over the prices.

UK experts have however said that the price of drugs will not be on the table in future trade talks with the US.

The new year is going to be a pivotal time for both the US and UK. Both countries, however, are still placing all bets on a new trade deal which they hope will strengthen our special relationship even further.