US working on '˜very big and exciting' deal with UK says Trump

Donald Trump has talked up the prospects of a 'very big and exciting' post-Brexit trade deal between the US and UK, amid controversy over whether Britain would have to relax food standards to secure an agreement.
Mr Fox has played down critics fears over US agricultural productsMr Fox has played down critics fears over US agricultural products
Mr Fox has played down critics fears over US agricultural products

In an early-morning tweet, the US president hit out at the “protectionist” EU and said work was under way on what could be a “major” deal with the UK.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who is in Washington for talks with US trade representatives, said that Brexit offered an “unprecedented opportunity” to reshape Britain’s independent trading ambitions.

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He played down critics’ fears that British markets could be opened up to US agricultural products currently blocked by EU food standards rules, including controversial chlorine-washed chicken.

The comments came as a cross-party House of Lords EU committee warned that the Government’s desire to secure free trade agreements after leaving the European Union could result in a “race to the bottom” on animal welfare standards as UK producers are forced to cut costs.

Mr Trump said on Monday that talks between Dr Fox and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer marked the opening of a “new chapter for stronger trade” which could make the trans-Atlantic special relationship “even better”.

And on Tuesday morning, he followed up with a message: “Working on major Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. Could be very big & exciting. JOBS! The EU is very protectionist with the US STOP!”

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Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said Mr Trump’s comments showed there was “a big world for the UK outside the EU”.

Following controversy over the US practice of washing poultry carcasses in chlorinated water to reduce the risk of contaminated meat, Labour accused Dr Fox of being prepared to “abandon British poultry farmers in favour of cheap US imports that do not meet our sanitary or animal welfare standards”.