Speaker backs US trade deal with UK

AMERICA should do a free trade deal with Britain following Donald Trump’s US election victory, one of the most influential Republicans in Washington believes.

Paul Ryan, speaker of the US House of Representatives, thinks such an agreement would show the UK that America remains an “indispensable ally”.

Mr Ryan wants US officials to start working on an agreement right away to show “solidarity” even though no deal can be signed until Britain has left the EU.

The support is a huge boost for Theresa May’s Government, which has talked up the chances of a free trade deal after Mr Trump’s shock election victory this month.

Unlike Barack Obama, who publicly opposed Brexit and said the UK would be at the “back of the queue” for a trade deal, Mr Trump welcomed the vote to leave the European Union.

The Republicans now control all three branches of the government – presidency, Senate and House of Representatives – making it easier to make policy changes.

Aides to Mr Ryan confirmed that he still believes America should seek a free trade deal with Britain after Brexit. “Speaker Ryan and president-elect Trump agree that America needs to secure good trade deals,” a spokesman for Mr Ryan said.

Aides to Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, are planning to fly out to America to meet Mr Trump’s team for talks within the next fortnight, with Mr Johnson himself hoping to visit before Christmas.

There is hope that the two countries can sign a “statement of intent” early next year to lower trade barriers.