Trump claims Brexit deal could hinder plans for US-UK trade pact
President Donald Trump has said that Theresa May’s Brexit deal was "good for the EU" and could jeopardise Britain’s ability to strike a trade agreement with the US.
“Right now as the deal stands she may not be able to trade with the US and I don’t think they want that at all, that would be a very big negative for the deal,” Trump said as he departed the White House on a domestic campaign rally.
The US administration apparently objects to the fact that under the terms negotiated, the UK would remain in the EU customs union for a 21-month transition period while Britain negotiates a fuller trade deal with the bloc.
The president said that May’s deal looks "good for the EU" and urged the PM to reopen negotiations with Brussels.
On Monday, the Prime Minister announced that the terms of the divorce from the EU would be voted on by parliament on 11 December.
A Downing Street spokesman responded to Trump’s comments on Monday by saying the UK remained committed to reaching a trade deal with the US: “The deal negotiated with the EU is very clear in allowing Britain to have an independent trade policy so that the UK can sign trade deals with countries around the world including with the US”.
“We have already been laying the groundwork for an ambitious agreement with the US through our joint working groups, which have met five times so far,” the spokesman said.
As long as the UK remains inside the EU’s customs union, it cannot strike trade deals with other parties.
Trump’s comments leave him siding with the many pro-Brexit campaigners in the Tory party, who are also trying to force May to ditch her deal and proposing a leadership contest against her.
A TV debate between May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has been penciled in for Sunday, 9 December, just two days before the Commons vote.