Assume the annual British interest rate is above the annual U.S. interest rate. Also assume the pound's forward rate of $1.75 equals the pound's spot rate. Given this information, interest rate parity ____ exist, and the U.S. firm ____ lock in a lower financing cost by borrowing pounds for one year.

a. does; could

b. does; could not

c. does not; could not

d. does not; could