UK, US agree to pursue 'ambitious' trade deal after Brexit

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Europe

Britain and the United States have agreed to pursue "an ambitious UK-US free trade agreement" after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday following talks with US President Donald Trump.

"We agreed today that as the UK leaves the European Union, we will pursue an ambitious UK-US free trade agreement," she told a joint press conference, a day after Trump skewered her Brexit strategy and said it could "kill" prospects for a trade deal with the United States.

In an interview published just hours before the two leaders held talks, Trump chided the "very unfortunate" results of the prime minister's proposals for Brexit and her negotiating tactics as Britain prepares to leave the European Union in March next year.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference at Chequers, the official country residence of the Prime Minister, near Aylesbury, Britain, July 13, 2018. /Reuters Photo

However, Trump later said May was doing a "fantastic job."

"Once the Brexit process is concluded and perhaps the UK has left the EU, I don't know what they're going to do but whatever you do is OK with me, that's your decision," Trump told a press conference with May in the garden of her official country residence Chequers.

"Whatever you do is OK with us, just make sure we can trade together, that's all that matters. This is an incredible opportunity for our two countries and we will seize it fully."

Last week at the same location, May finally won agreement for her Brexit plans from her cabinet but within days two senior ministers had quit, departures which Trump said earlier in the week had left Britain in turmoil.

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit shows Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab speaking in the House of Commons in London, UK, July 12, 2018. /VCG Photo

Hours after those proposals were formally published, Trump cast further doubt on the strategy, delivering a withering verdict in an interview with the Sun newspaper.

"If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal," Trump said. "I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn't listen to me."

Asked about that interview, Trump said he did not criticize the prime minister and was gushing in his praise of his host, saying she was tough and capable.

Demonstrators protesting against the visit of US President Donald Trump hold banners in Windsor, Britain, July 13, 2018. /Reuters Photo

"This incredible woman right here is doing a fantastic job, a great job," he said. "Unfortunately, there was a story that was done which was generally fine but it didn't put in what I said about the prime minister and I said a tremendous thing. It's called fake news."

During the press conference, May and Trump both spoke of the importance of the "special relationship" between their two countries, something that Brexit supporters hope will reap benefits when Britain leaves the EU, allowing it to forge closer trade ties with the world's biggest economy.

"I would say I would give our relationship in terms of grade the highest level of special," Trump said.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters