The US State Department says the treaty allowing Britain to import US defence technology without applying for licenses will be ratified by the end of this year.

The treaty, which was signed by the two countries in June, will allow the US to export defence equipment to Britain without the need for export licenses for each piece of equipment or technology.

The US does not have such an agreement with any other country.

US State Department’s bureau of international security assistant secretary John Rood says he would like the Senate to act on the treaty by the end of the year, the The Financial Times reported.