It’s full steam ahead for Brexit now

May lines up trade deals with US and Turkey ahead of visit to Dublin tomorrow

THERESA MAY will fly into Dublin tomorrow for talks with the Taoiseach after agreeing to strike an early trade deal with the US ahead of Britain exiting the EU, it was revealed last night.

The move is in defiance of EU leaders who say no formal talks can take place before Brexit.

President Donald Trump seized the chance to promise an early deal with Mrs May to boost business between the two countries ‘more than ever before’.

And Mrs May – ignoring questions about President Trump’s controversial move to block entry to the US from several Muslim countries – doubled down by announcing a similar preliminary deal with Turkey yesterday.

Turkey and the UK plan to sign a free trade deal once Britain leaves the EU, Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim said.

Mr Yildirim made the comment in a joint news conference with Mrs May, who was visiting Ankara after her trip to the United States.

The moves come as the impact of Brexit on Ireland continues to emerge – with Dublin tourism to be hit by a sharp fall in the value of sterling, which could discourage UK visitors from coming.

On Friday, Mrs May and Mr Trump agreed that talks over a new trade deal would begin immediately. The move will infuriate EU leaders who had warned that Britain could not negotiate new trade deals before exiting the EU.

It will also annoy UK supporters of a ‘soft’ Brexit, who argue Britain should concentrate on negotiating the right deal with Brussels.

Mrs May said: ‘This is the first step leading to a future trade deal with the US that could provide huge benefits to our economic muscle, which will give business additional certainty and confidence. It underlines our commitment to use the opportunities of Brexit to build a truly global Britain, increase free and fair trade, and improve the special relationship.’

Downing Street sources said Mr Trump had pledged to ensure current arrangements through Britain’s EU membership would continue after Brexit.

This comes ahead of the opening debate in the Commons this week on giving Mrs May authority to begin the Article 50 process of formally exiting the EU.

The trade agreement means immediate discussions will start between senior officials, with working groups set up to remove non-trade tariffs. No.10 sources denied that the agreement breached rules, saying it was just ‘talks about talks’. However, they were keen to sign a free trade deal ‘as soon as the ink is dry’ on the final exit terms from Brussels.

Steve Hilton – David Cameron’s former strategy director – said the impact of a US trade deal was probably more symbolic than practical.

Mrs May will arrive in Dublin following a meeting with Northern Ireland leaders in Cardiff. Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin’s new leader in Northern Ireland, and Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster are expected to discuss their differing views on Brexit with the prime minister.

Meanwhile it has emerged that Dublin may be exposed to a decline in tourism due to the reduced spending power of potential British visitors coupled with soaring hotel room rates as a result of hotel room shortages.

Ireland’s tourism boom is also threatened by high restaurant prices and the availability of cheaper breaks in other EU cities.

Tourism Ireland announced this week that at least half of British holiday-makers plan to spend less on their holidays.

This follows the Brexit vote last summer and the knock-on weakening of sterling against the euro. Over one-third said that they would reduce their planned holiday budget with a quarter looking for cheaper accommodation or cutting their stay to fewer days.

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: ‘The depreciation of the pound against the euro since the UK referendum on Brexit means that value for money will be a key message for us in Britain this year.’

Dublin hotels now rank among the most expensive in Europe, while restaurant prices have also been creeping up in a bid to boost profits and pay off legacy debts.

Tourism Ireland expects that North American visitor numbers will outpace those from Britain over the next two years, making it

British move will infuriate EU leaders