The US is ready to work “day and night” with Britain to negotiate a trade deal, US Ambassador Woody Johnson has said - while predicting the harder both sides work, the more pressure it will put on the EU in similar talks.
Mr Johnson also backtracked on previous remarks about US access to the NHS, denying there were any plans afoot to “buy” the health service. Talking to LBC, Mr Johnson, who described US President Donald Trump’s attitude towards post-Brexit Britain as “bullish”, said UK negotiators needed to “take him at his word” on the subject of a trade deal. Stressing how keen the US President is for a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK, Mr Johnson said: “He’s very bullish.
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“And he said, you know, dozens of times that I’ve seen him say how excited he is about the prospect of a closer relationship, trade-wise, free trade agreement with the UK.”
The US ambassador added: “He wants to get it done. Take him at his word, and start working on it day and night. It would be my suggestion.”
Mr Johnson also urged the UK to strike trade deals within the ‘Fives Eyes’ security alliance including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
He said: “Having a trade deal with the US and maybe the Five Eyes will strengthen your hand when you are negotiating with your, you know, your closest geographically trading partner, which is the EU.”
In the wake of Labour repeatedly telling voters in last month’s general election that the NHS would be a key part of negotiations under a Tory government, Mr Johnson insisted US President Donald Trump was not interested in the idea.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1227035/Brexit-news-us-trade-deal-boris-johnson-donald-trump-eu-latest-update
