Trump, May reaffirm plans for US-UK trade deal

U.S. and United Kingdom leaders on Friday vowed again to complete a bilateral trade agreement after the U.K. completes its exit from the European Union.

President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed during a conversation on the sidelines of the Group of 7 meetings in Sicily to forge a trade deal after the United Kingdom wraps up a pact to leave the EU.

“The two leaders also agreed on the importance of free trade, while ensuring that people are not left behind by globalization,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

{mosads}”The president and the prime minister reaffirmed their commitment to increasing trade between the U.K. and the U.S., including a post-Brexit trade deal,” the spokesperson said.

In January, May was the first world leader to visit the White House after Trump took office. The two leaders then talked about the importance of a trade agreement. 

The U.S. and U.K. cannot begin negotiating a deal until the EU exit is complete.

The two countries could use the time to lay the foundation for trade talks, although the outcome of the Brexit deal will likely shape any potential agreement between the longtime allies.

The U.K. and the EU are expected to start Brexit talks next month and have until March 29, 2019, to reach a deal on the separation. Short of an agreement, Britain will still depart the EU at that point.