Officials from the UK and US held a series of both technical and high-level political meetings last week on trade relations post-Brexit, including the fourth session of a bilateral “Trade and Investment Working Group,” as well as leaders’ level discussions between US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May. Trump and May both expressed interest last week in striking a trade accord following Brexit, though the early days of Trump’s visit to the UK saw the US leader issue mixed messages over May’s proposed approach to Brexit negotiations with the EU and what this might mean for trade deal prospects. The series of meetings came as the British government published a highly-anticipated “ white paper ” on the future UK relationship with the European Union. The document, numbering at over 100 pages, was endorsed by May’s cabinet following a meeting at the prime minister’s country residence at Chequers, and is described in a foreword by the UK leader as an approach that “strikes the balance we need – between rights and obligations.” (See Bridges Weekly, 12 July 2018 ) The chapters cover topics such as economic and security partnerships with the EU, along with other forms of cooperation,...