No10 hits back at Donald Trump after claim Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal blocks UK-US trade
3 min read
Downing Street has hit back at Donald Trump after he suggested Boris Johnson’s Brexit agreement could block a trade deal with America.
A spokesman for Number 10 said the Prime Minister's new-look withdrawal agreement "means we can strike our own free trade deals around the world”.
It came after Mr Trump told Nigel Farage he was concerned about "certain aspects" of the accord struck with Brussels last month.
Speaking to the Brexit Party leader on LBC, the American president said: "He’s in a very difficult position, and I think he’s doing what nobody else was willing to do.
“I also think he’s looking at the United States because we can do much more on trade.”
He added: “We want to do trade with UK, and they want to do trade with us.
“And to be honest with you under certain aspects of this deal, you can’t do it, you can’t trade.”
The president went on: “We can’t make a trade deal with the UK.
“I think we can do many times the numbers that we’re doing right now, and certainly much bigger numbers than you’re doing under the European Union.
“Boris wants to be very careful with that, because under certain ways we’re precluded, which would be ridiculous."
But the Number 10 spokesman said: "The PM negotiated a new deal which ensures that we take back control of our laws, trade, borders and money - a deal which people said he never would negotiate.
"Under this new deal the whole of the UK will leave the EU customs union, which means we can strike our own free trade deals around the world from which every part of the UK will benefit.
"This election will allow voters to choose a parliament actually willing to get Brexit done so this country to move on - all Jeremy Corbyn can offer is two referendums next year and no leadership to take this country forward."
Elsewhere in the interview, President Trump criticised Jeremy Corbyn, and suggested the Brexit Party should agree an election pact with Mr Johnson to guarantee Brexit is delivered.
He told Mr Farage: "I have great relationships with many of the leaders, including Boris who's a fantastic man - I think he's the exact right guy for the times.
"I know that you and him will end up doing something that could be terrific - if you and he get together it's [an] unstoppable force.
"And Corbyn would be so bad for your country, he'd be so bad, he'd take you in such a bad way.
"He'd take you into such bad places. But your country has tremendous potential, it's a great country."
The Brexit Party is expected to give more details of its election strategy on Friday, amid speculation it could stand aside in hundreds of seats to give Tory candidates a better chance of winning.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
