Queen gives approval to Brexit, opens new Ag markets for U.S.

Queen Elizabeth II Last Thursday gave her formal approval to legislation pulling Britain out of the European Union, setting the stage for a potential U.S.-U.K. trade deal.

 "The withdrawal agreement has received royal assent and is now law," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday. "We will leave the EU on January 31."

 That could be good news for U.S. farmers, so long as the British agree to also divorce themselves from restrictive EU ag policy that limits trade. Gregg Doud, chief agricultural negotiator with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, stressed just last week the importance of a new trade pact with Britain.

 "In my mind, that's a legitimate top 10 market for U.S. agriculture," he said. "When the flag drops, we'll be off and running in discussions with the U.K."