G7: Trump promises fantastic deal when Britain loses EU ‘anchor’

Donald Trump has back backed Boris Johnson as the “right man” to make Brexit happen.

US President Donald Trump, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrive for a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/Getty

Britain will be able to strike a “fantastic” trade deal with the US without the “anchor” of the European Union holding it back, Donald Trump has said.

Speaking after a bilateral meeting with Boris Johnson at the G7 summit in Biarritz, the US president said that the prime minister was the “right man” to make Brexit happen. He said that Theresa May, when she was prime minister, had “stymied” the progress of talks and that Britain would be able to do a “very big trade deal”.

Mr Trump said: “We’re going to do a very big trade deal, bigger than we’ve ever had with the UK and now at some point they won’t have the obstacle, they won’t have the anchor around their ankle, because that’s what they have.” Mr Johnson has warned that a trade deal with the US will not be “plain sailing” and has raised a series of areas where he wants concessions from Washington.

He told Mr Trump: “Talking of the anchor, Donald, what we want is for our ships to take freight, say, from New York to Boston, which for the moment they’re not able to do.”

He added: “I know that there will be some tough talks ahead because at the moment I don’t think we sell a single joint of British lamb in the United States. We don’t sell any beef … And there are huge opportunities for the UK to penetrate the American market in ways we currently don’t.”

Before talks over a working breakfast of scrambled eggs and veal sausages at the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, Mr Trump was keen to highlight the difference in his relationship with Mr Johnson compared with Mrs May. He said that Mr Johnson was the “right man for the job” of handling Brexit, adding: “I’ve been saying that for a long time. It didn’t make your predecessor very happy.”

Mr Johnson was asked if he had made clear his views on protecting the NHS and animal welfare standards in trade talks with Mr Trump. “There is complete unanimity on that point,” he replied.

The prime minister also warned Mr Trump against escalating his trade war with China. “We are in favour of trade peace on the whole,” he said.

In a series of broadcast interviews, Mr Johnson played down the prospect of a rapid deal.

He told ITV: “There’s an opportunity to do a great free trade deal with the United States. The president is very gung-ho about that and so am I.” But he added that “I don’t think people realise quite how protectionist” the US market could be. “They want to do it within a year, I’d love to do it within a year, but that’s a very fast timetable,” he said.

The two leaders agreed to set up a working group focused on closer economic links.

Larry Kudlow, US director of the National Economic Council, and Sir Mark Sedwill, the British cabinet secretary, have been directed to set up the special relationship economic working group.

John Bolton, Mr Trump’s national security adviser, said last night (Sunday) that the special relationship had “never been stronger”.

He added: “Enjoyed accompanying Donald Trump at his working breakfast with Boris Johnson where we collaborated on ways to further deepen our security and economic relationship with the UK. The US-UK special relationship has never been stronger.”

However, there were hints of divisions over Mr Trump’s push for a series of “mini-deals” between the UK and the US. As Mr Johnson said that Britain and Washington would do a “fantastic deal”, Mr Trump interrupted to say: “Lots of fantastic mini-deals, we’re talking about many different deals but we’re having a good time.”

Mr Johnson is seeking a comprehensive free trade deal with the US, rather than a series of mini-deals. The prime minister’s Eurosceptic supporters, however, favour pursuing a series of mini-deals, including some that can be signed soon after Britain leaves the EU.

Last night (Sunday) Sir Alan Duncan, a former minister who has previously been critical of Mr Johnson, gave his support to the prime minister’s push to remove trade barriers in the US for British products such as Melton Mowbray pork pies. Sir Alan said: “US here we come! Melton Mowbray pork pies are a million times better than McDonald’s! Get ready for good eat in all US towns.”

However, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has said that a trade deal would not get through Congress if Brexit harmed the Good Friday Agreement and the seamless border with Ireland.

The Times