LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain is expected to seek out ways to increase its trade relationship with America this week as Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK’s trade minister visits New York City and Washington. But a free-trade deal remains a long way off.

Trevelyan is scheduled to meet U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai and U.S. commerce secretary Gina Raimondo in Washington Tuesday. She will also promote Britain during a meeting in New York with investors.

A trade agreement with the United States has been touted among the most important prizes for Britain’s departure from the European Union during the period following 2016 Brexit. However, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that it is not an area of priority in his administration.

Britain has had to change its approach and pursue smaller agreements to reduce trade barriers, resolve trade disputes that have been ongoing, and collaborate on global trade reform.

Trevelyan will visit the United States for her first time since September when she was appointed trade minister. She plans to pursue this strategy and push for resolving a long-standing dispute about steel and aluminium tariffs.

Donald Trump was the former president of the USA. He imposed tariffs of 25% and 10% on imports of steel and aluminum from EU members in 2018. Although these tariffs were lifted in October, they were still applicable to Britain after it exited the EU.

Last week, officials in Britain and the United States rejected an article in Financial Times claiming that talks to resolve the dispute over tariffs were being held up by concerns regarding Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade regulations.