WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Paul Ryan is calling on President Barack Obama's administration to start talking to the United Kingdom about a new trade agreement to ensure "a smooth" relationship after the country parts ways with the European Union.
But other key Republicans are urging patience while the complicated process unfolds.
Republicans have been wrestling with how to respond, particularly on the issue of trade, after last week's referendum in which British voters decided to break off from the EU. Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, is advocating an early, aggressive stance in establishing deals with Britain.
"Obviously, it takes time to do something like this, but I think it is something we should be working on," Ryan said last week, according to comments his office published on the speaker's website Monday. "We should begin discussions with Great Britain to ease concerns so that we do have a smooth trade relationship with Great Britain because they are our indispensable ally."
Ryan later said negotiations with Britain should be done on "a parallel track" to ongoing talks with the EU toward a trade agreement known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Ryan isn't the only lawmaker urging the administration to start talks to ensure the U.S.-U.K. relationship won't be harmed by exit proceedings in Europe.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in a statement Friday that talks should begin immediately.
But on Tuesday, other Republicans urged more patience before the U.S. dives into negotiating a new deal.
"It's going to take some time for them to figure out their transition exit from the EU," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. "Until that happens, I think it's probably going to be difficult for us to weigh in there."
Thune also pointed out that it would be hard for the U.S. to negotiate a trade deal with the U.K. until Washington has a better sense of Britain's post-split trade relationship with the EU.
"I think we should wait and see how it shakes out," said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, stressing the same uncertainty.
Some Democrats also said they were uninterested in jumping into new trade negotiations until more uncertainties are ironed out.
"I think we've got to let the dust settle before we decide anything because of Europe," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
Information for this article was contributed by David Weigel of The Washington Post.
A Section on 06/30/2016