Instead of prisoner releases and troop withdrawals, the Americans' meetings centered on customs protocols, rules of origin, nontariff barriers, transparent investment regulations, and other matters typical of international trade talks.
Even without tariffs there is no full free trade outside of a customs union, for rules of origin must be checked to ensure the product is eligible for a zero tariff, for example to stop a Chinese product being rebadged and passed off as a UK product.
That would get rid of most tariffs on goods, but it wouldn't deal with other aspects of customs such as rules of origin, which mean companies have to prove where all the parts in their products have come from.
Rules of origin epitomize the hemisphere's policy problem: a growing number of the region's PTAs carry complex and restrictive rules of origin, and the many rules-of-origin regimes differ from each other.
While there are benefits to being part of the EU customs union, in terms of reduced customs procedures and the avoidance of complicated "rules of origin," being part of a customs union would, unfortunately, constrain the ability of the UK to lower tariffs on its trade with non-EU countries.
We've been very clear that we want to obtain the benefits of a customs union - no tariffs, no rules of origin checks and no quotas - while being able to operate our own independent trade policy.
In the temporary arrangement, all tariffs, quotas, rules of origin and customs processes, including declarations, on UK-EU trade would be eliminated and the UK would apply the EU's common external tariff at its border.
Requirements like imports licensing, quality standards, custom rules, pre-shipment inspections and rules of origin which are often obstacles to free trade come within the scope of non-tariff barriers.
We share the objective of ensuring we deliver the benefits of a customs union – with no tariffs, fees, charges, or rules of origin checks.
The most contentious issue, though, relates to a continuing push by the fashion industry to ease global "rules of origin". Such rules establish where customs collectors consider a product is made.
Airbus makes about 40% by value of its aeroplanes in the UK, thanks to just-in-time delivery and no rules of origin arrangements as part of the EU customs union.
