‘The potential is unlimited!’ Donald Trump wades into the middle of the Brexit crisis with an early-morning tweet talking up a ‘large scale trade deal’ with Britain after we leave the EU
- The permatanned president sent the tweet at 7.22am Washington time
- It came at a critical time for Brexit as MPs are set to debate a delay to departure
- Came after an earlier row about US food imports like chlorinated chicken
- British farmers want to keep the current high safety and welfare standards
Donald Trump has waded yet again into Brexit, saying he was looking forward to talks on a ‘large scale trade deal’ with the UK, adding ‘the potential is unlimited!’
As Westminster was engulfed by ongoing chaos about when and if the UK will leave the EU the permatanned president took to Twitter with the upbeat message.
It was sent at 7.22am in Washington DC, 11.22am in the UK, a morning time that often sees Mr Trump uses Twitter to comment on news he has seen on television.
He wrote: My Administration looks forward to negotiating a large scale Trade Deal with the United Kingdom.
‘The potential is unlimited!’
Mr Trump took to Twitter in the early morning, Washington time. He is a frequent early morning tweeter on a wide range of issues
He enthusiastically voiced his backing for a UK-US trade deal once Brexit is finalised. It has been the subject of a lot of debate in recent weeks
His intervention is likely to reignite the row over the UK’s post-Brexit trade with the United States.
Earlier this month his ambassador in the UK, Woody Johnson, accused the European Union of planting false concerns over US farming practices, including chlorinated chicken.
The Trump administration’s post-Brexit trade deal demands sparked fears that the UK could be flooded with low-quality food imports.
Earlier this month Woody Johnson said: ‘In any situation I know that our two countries have to be together in this free world’ The New York Jets owner and billionaire businessman has been ambassador to the UK since 2017 when he was appointed by Donald Trump
The National Farmers’ Union had raised concerns over food safety and animal welfare standards. It wants food imports to continue to meet the same standards as they do currently in the UK
The US wants ‘comprehensive market access’ for US agricultural products through the reduction or removal of tariffs and the elimination of ‘unwarranted barriers’ to food and drink imports according to a document released today.
The publication of negotiating objectives for a deal by the office of US trade representative Robert Lighthizer was welcomed by the Department for International Trade as a sign that Washington is keen to start talks soon after Brexit.
Liam Fox’s department said the UK would insist on maintaining ‘high standards for businesses, workers and consumers’ in any deal.
But the National Farmers’ Union raised concerns over food safety and animal welfare standards.