Donald Trump and Boris Johnson have already begun work on a “substantial trade agreement,” says US president.
Trump told reporters that the two had spoken in a phone call on Friday. He said that a post-Brexit deal could lead to a “three to four, five times” increase in trade between the US and UK.
This comes as Dominic Raab is set to fly to Washington in the coming weeks to step up trade negotiations in the US.
Number 10 confirmed that on Friday talks had taken place after Trump had called Johnson to congratulate him on his new premiership. Downing Street said Trump given his commitment to an “ambitious free trade agreement,” and the two would meet at a G7 summit in Biarritz, France, next month.
“Impeded” by the UK’s relationship with the EU, Trump and Johnson have said formal trade negotiations will begin “as soon as possible” once the UK leaves the EU. While still in the EU the UK is unable to sign its own trade deals.
“He’s a good guy, he’s a friend of mine,” Trump told press in a speech signalling to the close relationship the two leaders have struck in recent times. He went on to say:
“We don’t do the kind of trade we could do with what some people say is Great Britain. And some people remember a word you don’t hear too much is the word England – which is a piece of it. But with the UK we could do much much more trade. And we expect to do that okay.”
