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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brown to hold Obama economy talks | Brown to hold Obama economy talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has arrived in the United States for his first meeting with new President Barack Obama. | Gordon Brown has arrived in the United States for his first meeting with new President Barack Obama. |
| The UK prime minister said the effects of the two countries' economic bailout packages would be "magnified" if they worked closely together. | The UK prime minister said the effects of the two countries' economic bailout packages would be "magnified" if they worked closely together. |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister would hold half an hour of personal talks with Mr Obama on Tuesday in Washington. | |
| Mr Brown will be the first European leader to meet President Obama. | Mr Brown will be the first European leader to meet President Obama. |
| He will also become the fifth British prime minister to address Congress when he does so on Wednesday. | He will also become the fifth British prime minister to address Congress when he does so on Wednesday. |
| Downing Street dismissed suggestions that the visit had been downgraded by President Obama after it emerged there would not be a formal joint press conference. | Downing Street dismissed suggestions that the visit had been downgraded by President Obama after it emerged there would not be a formal joint press conference. |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said there "will still be a media availability" when the two men meet. | Mr Brown's spokesman said there "will still be a media availability" when the two men meet. |
| Before setting off for Washington, Mr Brown told TalkSport radio he was "impressed" by Mr Obama: "I think first of all to meet him [Mr Obama] as a person, you cannot but be impressed by his demeanour, his determination, not just his fluency, but his sympathy for the causes he represents. | Before setting off for Washington, Mr Brown told TalkSport radio he was "impressed" by Mr Obama: "I think first of all to meet him [Mr Obama] as a person, you cannot but be impressed by his demeanour, his determination, not just his fluency, but his sympathy for the causes he represents. |
| Today's meeting cannot be the equivalent of the Camp David 'Colgate moment' at which Bush & Blair bonded Nick Robinson's blog "I think the impression he has given of America to the world is transformative, because he is a black man who has won the presidency, who is living in the White House that was built by slaves." | Today's meeting cannot be the equivalent of the Camp David 'Colgate moment' at which Bush & Blair bonded Nick Robinson's blog "I think the impression he has given of America to the world is transformative, because he is a black man who has won the presidency, who is living in the White House that was built by slaves." |
| He added: "I think people's view of America is changing as a result of that." | He added: "I think people's view of America is changing as a result of that." |
| Although talks will be dominated by the recession, the two leaders are also expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | Although talks will be dominated by the recession, the two leaders are also expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| Protectionism fear | Protectionism fear |
| Mr Obama was facing "very difficult" economic decisions after taking office in the middle of a crisis and "doing similar things to what we are doing in Britain", Mr Brown said. | Mr Obama was facing "very difficult" economic decisions after taking office in the middle of a crisis and "doing similar things to what we are doing in Britain", Mr Brown said. |
| Following an EU summit at the weekend, the prime minister said he would take a "clear message" from European leaders that "bold global action" was needed to tackle the economic crisis. | Following an EU summit at the weekend, the prime minister said he would take a "clear message" from European leaders that "bold global action" was needed to tackle the economic crisis. |
| His address to Congress is expected to compare the battle against the global recession to the fight against European fascism in the 1940s. | His address to Congress is expected to compare the battle against the global recession to the fight against European fascism in the 1940s. |
| Former assistant secretary of state, James Rubin, said one of the current fears was protectionism. | Former assistant secretary of state, James Rubin, said one of the current fears was protectionism. |
| When you have a crisis like this people have a tendency to look first to their own constituents James Rubin, former assistant secretary of state "Everyone who's an international economist is worried about this sort of thing," said Mr Rubin. | When you have a crisis like this people have a tendency to look first to their own constituents James Rubin, former assistant secretary of state "Everyone who's an international economist is worried about this sort of thing," said Mr Rubin. |
| "But everyone who's a politician knows that people are going to have to take care of their own in a time of crisis. | "But everyone who's a politician knows that people are going to have to take care of their own in a time of crisis. |
| "That doesn't mean there isn't going to be plenty of trade and plenty of international economic cooperation. But when you have a crisis like this people have a tendency to look first to their own constituents." | "That doesn't mean there isn't going to be plenty of trade and plenty of international economic cooperation. But when you have a crisis like this people have a tendency to look first to their own constituents." |
| The EU and Canada have warned that a "Buy American" clause in the US economic recovery package could promote protectionism. | The EU and Canada have warned that a "Buy American" clause in the US economic recovery package could promote protectionism. |
| It seeks to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in construction work funded by the bill - but has included a pledge to respect international trade obligations. | It seeks to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in construction work funded by the bill - but has included a pledge to respect international trade obligations. |
| Mr Brown's meeting with Mr Obama comes ahead of the G20 summit of the world's biggest economies in London next month - in which Mr Brown has said it is vital that world leaders "take the big decisions necessary to secure our economic future". | Mr Brown's meeting with Mr Obama comes ahead of the G20 summit of the world's biggest economies in London next month - in which Mr Brown has said it is vital that world leaders "take the big decisions necessary to secure our economic future". |