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Boris Johnson met billionaire Jeff Bezos to ask him how much tax Amazon pays in the UK.
The Prime Minister met the American entrepreneur – one of the richest men in the world – during his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr Johnson said “Amazon is coming to the rescue of the Amazon” as the couple discussed the climate crisis.
Mr Bezos replied: “Partly we’ll start with the Congo Basin, we’ll start with a few rain sanctuaries, in the Andes, two different areas.”
Mr Bezos had been delayed by a roadblock in New York and was late to meet with the Prime Minister and members of the British mission to the UN.
He joked as he sat down, “I really hope the hardest thing I do today is get here.”
Her partner Lauren Sanchez, dressed in a white pantsuit and black heels, waved her shoes at the PM to show how far she’s come, saying, “He’s complaining? Truly? Go on.’
Mr Johnson praised Mr Bezos for his commitment to the environment, saying: “Amazon is coming to the rescue of the Amazon”.
On Sunday, he pledged to bring up the e-commerce company’s taxes at their meeting.
Amazon UK sales climbed 51% to nearly £ 20 billion last year, supported by coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Despite the boom, estimates indicate that Amazon has a tax-to-revenue ratio of just 0.37%.
Boris Johnson spoke to American entrepreneur Jeff Bezos during his trip to New York
The prime minister appeared in good spirits as he shook hands with the billionaire
Mr Johnson had previously pledged to raise taxes on the UK e-commerce company
When asked on Sunday if he would challenge Mr Bezos on Amazon to pay a fair share of taxes in the UK and improve workers’ rights, Mr Johnson replied: “Yes, definitely”.
He added: “But I will also congratulate him on his massive forestry initiative. He is investing heavily in planting trees around the world.
It comes as Mr Johnson met with other world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
Last night he admitted he was facing an uphill battle to persuade Joe Biden to sign a post-Brexit trade deal – saying the president has other ‘fish to fry’.
Speaking ahead of his first White House summit today, Mr Johnson said a number of long-standing trade issues have been resolved – over Scotch whiskey and British beef.
But he played down hopes of an impending trade deal, which was on the verge of being concluded when Donald Trump stepped down last year.
Although he said his relationship with Mr Biden had “not been very long in gestation,” he told reporters en route to the United States: “On the free trade agreement (FTA) , the reality is that Joe has a lot of fish to whip “. He has a huge infrastructure package, he has a better rebuild package.
“We want to do it – but what we want is a good FTA, a great FTA. And I have a lot of experience with American negotiations and they are pretty ruthless, American negotiators.
“And I’d much rather get a deal that really works for the UK than get a quick deal.”
Mr Biden was vice president when Barack Obama made his notorious threat to put Britain “last in line” for a US trade deal if he voted for Brexit.
He also made no secret of his concerns about the UK’s efforts to undo parts of the Brexit trade deal with the EU over Northern Ireland.
Downing Street yesterday declined to say whether the government believes it can strike a deal ahead of the crucial US midterm elections in November next year.
But Mr Johnson will try to smooth the path to a deal during talks with congressional leaders in Washington today.
The Prime Minister will also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris before seeing Mr Biden in the evening.
Mr Johnson will now become just the second European leader to visit Mr Biden in the White House, following Angela Merkel’s trip in July.
Ahead of his meeting, Mr Johnson had said he would challenge Mr Bezos on Amazon by paying a fair share of UK taxes. Pictured: Jeff Bezos watches his partner Lauren Sánchez’s foot
Mr Johnson met Amazon founder and partner Lauren Sánchez in New York
Prime Minister’s meeting with Amazon founder comes after he meets with world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly this week
The President was scathing at Mr Johnson during his election campaign in 2019, describing him as a “physical and emotional clone” of President Trump.
However, the two appeared to have a decent working relationship at the G7 summit in Cornwall in June.
But Mr Johnson acknowledged that they had yet to form the deep bond sometimes seen between UK prime ministers and US presidents in the past.
Asked about the personal relationship between the two men, Mr Johnson said: ‘Look, I have only had long conversations with Joe Biden, either on the phone or in Carbis Bay and then in NATO.
“It is not a relationship that has been very long in the making. But it’s great, I mean really great. We agree on all kinds of things.
“Did we bond over one thing in particular?” He’s a bit crazy about trains, just like me. He likes trains, which is a good thing.
Prime Minister said he would congratulate Amazon founder on massive forestry initiative ahead of meeting
Although he said his relationship with Mr Biden (pictured with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in June) had not “been in the making for very long,” he told reporters on his way to the United States: “On the free trade agreement (FTA), the reality is that Joe has a lot of fish to fry. He has a huge infrastructure package, he has a better rebuilding package.”
Mr Johnson said relations with the United States were “about as good as they have been at any time for decades.”
And that a certain number of “pebbles in the shoe” had been removed in recent years, especially on trade.
He also highlighted the formation of the new AUKUS security pact agreed last week. The deal commits the UK and the US to helping Australia counter the threat posed by China.
Mr Johnson is also expected to attempt to reestablish relations with President Biden over Afghanistan today.
The prime minister is said to have felt “disappointed” by the swift withdrawal, which saw the Taliban take power.
But US diplomatic sources said Mr Johnson had work to do after “complaining in public”.
One of them said the decision to step down was first taken by Mr Trump following negotiations with the Taliban which the UK was not opposed to.
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