Theresa May’s Brexit deal will kill US trade pact, ambassador warns as he slams PM’s leadership
Woody Johnson suggested the current withdrawal agreement would hinder a comprehensive trade deal
THERESA May’s Brexit deal would kill off trade with America, Donald Trump’s ambassador warned today.
US envoy Woody Johnson said the withdrawal agreement would make it impossible to sign a trans-Atlantic trade deal after we quit the EU.
And he hit out at Britain’s crisis of leadership in a dig at the PM.
Mr Johnson, a close pal of the US President, told the BBC he wanted to see “a quick, very massive bilateral trade deal” after the UK leaves the European Union.
But asked if the current Brexit deal agreed by Mrs May would allow that, he replied: “It doesn’t look like it would be possible.”
The ambassador warned that ministers would have to weigh up all the factors involved before deciding which direction to go in.
And he claimed Britain is “in need of leadership” as MPs dither over whether or not to back the Prime Minister’s deal.
But he added: “I’m very positive, I’m very impressed by the people I’ve talked to.
“All of the reporting looks back and it looks at a very static future rather than a positive British future.
“If you look back and you just try to project the past into the present and future it’s going to be bleak.
"But you're leaving out the great thing that Britain has to offer, and that is all of the people and all of their efforts and their ability to solve problems. And if you factor that in, I think the future is extremely positive and extremely bright.
Mr Trump has spoken out in support of Brexit and vowed to cut a big trade deal with Britain as soon as possible.
But he told The Sun earlier this year that Mrs May’s deal could make that impossible because it would leave the UK following a host of Brussels regulations.
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The Government is adamant that the deal doesn’t rule out trade deals with countries around the world.
Mr Johnson also told the BBC the President could make his state visit to Britain as soon as May.
A No10 spokesman said: "Both sides have been clear through the process, ourselves and the US, that we want an ambitious trade agreement and we stand ready to conclude such an agreement as a priority after we leave the European Union."
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