WASHINGTON : British officials confirmed on Monday that Washington put the deal on hold last week, the report said, as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks broader concessions from the UK beyond the scope of the technology partnership. The move reflects rising frustration within the US administration over what it views as Britain’s reluctance to ease so-called non-tariff barriers, including regulatory rules governing food and industrial goods.

The agreement, referred to as the “Tech Prosperity Deal,” was reached in September during President Trump’s visit to Britain and was designed to deepen bilateral cooperation in cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and civil nuclear energy.

The United States remains Britain’s largest trading partner, and major US technology firms have already invested billions of dollars in UK operations. Official confirmation is yet to be received.

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