Brexit is an opportunity to strengthen our trade links with the US

SIR – Tomorrow we will join Dr Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, on the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier to launch the Maritime Nations Forum with our US counterparts.

Alongside us will be a British icon – RMS Queen Mary 2. These ships symbolise the closest commercial and security links to be found between two nations, and Britain’s world-class maritime capability – from engineering and training to professional services.

While the EU is our largest trading partner, the US is our largest singlenation trading partner. And although we expect a mutually beneficial deal with the EU to be agreed, we also want Britain to enhance its role as an outward-looking maritime nation. That will involve recommitting ourselves to the transatlantic trade and investment relationship between Britain and the US. Our delegation’s mission is to explore opportunities to strengthen this relationship.

Britain’s maritime sector is the fundamental enabler of our global trade. It adds £37.4 billion to our GDP and supports nearly a million jobs.

Not only do we facilitate the flow of goods in and out of our nation, linking to global markets, but we are also, in many ways, the world’s maritime centre. With cutting-edge technology, high-quality design and manufacturing, unparalleled expertise in services and major investment opportunities, we are the natural home for global maritime business.

We’re committed to working with the Government to ensure that our pitch is as compelling as possible. To that end, we are working on a sector deal as part of the Government’s industrial strategy, to maintain and grow Britain’s position as a world-class maritime centre. Adrian Crawford

Commercial Manager, Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering Ben Murray

Director, Maritime UK

Chief Executive, Coltraco Ultrasonics and eight others; see telegraph.co.uk SIR – Does the Prime Minister still believe that no deal is better than a bad deal?

It would be nice to know, though I am beginning to suspect she no longer does. Keith Snedden

Richmond, Surrey

SIR – It is argued that Theresa May cannot swerve from her ludicrous Chequers negotiating stance, having invested so much political capital in it.

Yet she seems to have no such reservations about caving in to one EU demand after another, without reciprocation, humiliating herself and her country in the process. How ridiculous that she even contemplates extending the transition period, with all the uncertainty that entails.

For the sake of the country, and the Conservative Party, Britain’s cowardly approach needs to end. The leader must change course immediately – or be changed. Tim Coles

Carlton, Bedfordshire