Britain eyes Central America ties post-Brexit

AFP, GUATEMALA CITY: As part of Britain's push to boost international prospects post-Brexit, a junior foreign minister is traveling to Central America and Mexico next week on a trip to emphasize free trade.
Joyce Anelay, minister of state under Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, will start off in Guatemala before heading to El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico, the British embassy in Guatemala City said in a statement.
"Baroness Anelay will emphasize the United Kingdom's commitment to remain an important global player and an outward-looking country where free trade is at the top of the agenda," the statement said. British officials have stepped up overseas trips in recent weeks as they try to increase trade opportunities in the wake of a June 23 referendum result calling for Britain to leave the European Union.
This week, British Prime Minister 
Theresa May was in Bahrain pursuing Gulf ties, while her finance minister, Philip Hammond, was visiting South Africa, Japan and South Korea.
May's government has insisted it will secure new trade deals around the world once it formally ditches its membership in the EU, its biggest trade partner, following negotiations projected to start in March 2017.

Britain eyes Central America ties post-Brexit

AFP, GUATEMALA CITY: As part of Britains push to boost international prospects post-Brexit, a junior foreign minister is traveling to Central America and Mexico next week on a trip to emphasize free trade. Joyce Anelay, minister of state under Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, will start off in Guatemala before heading to El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico, the British embassy in Guatemala City said in a statement. Baroness Anelay will emphasize the United Kingdoms commitment to remain an important global player and an outward-looking country where free trade is at the top of the agenda, the statement said. British officials have stepped up overseas trips in recent weeks as they try to increase trade opportunities in the wake of a June 23 referendum result calling for Britain to leave the European Union. This week, British Prime Minister Theresa May was in Bahrain pursuing Gulf ties, while her finance minister, Philip Hammond, was visiting South Africa, Japan and South Korea. Mays government has insisted it will secure new trade deals around the world once it formally ditches its membership in the EU, its biggest trade partner, following negotiations projected to start in March 2017.