White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said any efforts to undermine the Northern Ireland Protocol would not create a conducive environment for trade talks between the United States and the United Kingdom.
As a member of parliament, new British Prime Minister Liz Truss introduced legislation to undo the protocol, which was part of Britain's withdrawal agreement from the European Union. It prioritised protecting the 1998 Good Friday Agreement for peace in the region.
"There is a no formal linkage on trade talks between the US and the UK and the Northern Ireland Protocol, as we have said, but efforts to undo the Northern Ireland Protocol would not create a conducive environment," Ms Jean-Pierre said.
On Tuesday, the White House said US President Joe Biden and Ms Truss "discussed their shared commitment to protecting the gains of the Good Friday Agreement and the importance of reaching a negotiated agreement with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol".
Mr Biden, who often speaks with pride of his Irish roots, has been insistent that Britain do nothing that could endanger a quarter century of peace in Northern Ireland.
The two leaders could meet as soon as the UN General Assembly later this month.
On Twitter, new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, hardline Brexiteer Chris Heaton-Harris, said he looked forward to working with Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.
Good to refresh a great old friendship with @simoncoveney today. I look forward to working closely with him in my new role at @NIOgov. pic.twitter.com/1sLEIlb7cE
— Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) September 7, 2022
Read more: Who is new Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris?
Earlier, Ms Truss told the House of Commons that if Brexit negotiations are not forthcoming, Britain will proceed with a bill to alter the protocol.
Ms Truss said that her preference was for a negotiated solution, but only if it delivers what the UK government sets out in its protocol bill.
The bill, spearheaded by Ms Truss in her former role as foreign secretary, proposes scrapping parts of the deal that London signed with Brussels as part of the UK's departure from the bloc.
It is currently winding its way through parliament, despite EU warnings that it breaks international law and could spark retaliatory trade sanctions.
"What we cannot allow is for this situation to drift, because my number one priority is protecting the supremacy of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement," she told the House of Commons.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss says "we need to resolve the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol" and adds that her preference is for a negotiated solution that delivers all the things set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. | More: https://t.co/z8BT3B2zxR pic.twitter.com/8jdpO3zwxz
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 7, 2022
British Prime Minister Liz Truss says she is "determined" to work with all parties in Northern Ireland to resolve the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol | More: https://t.co/tgEfKFFm20 pic.twitter.com/eHYWgCF5w4
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 7, 2022
She told parliament she was "determined" to resolve the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has led to suspension of the power-sharing executive in Belfast.
"I want to work with all of the parties in Northern Ireland to get the Executive and the Assembly back up and running, so we can collectively deliver for the people of Northern Ireland," Ms Truss said.
"But, in order to do that, we do need to fix the issues of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has damaged the balance between the communities in Northern Ireland."
The UK government opposes internal border checks on goods heading from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland.
