US agrees to post-Brexit trade talks: UK
US President Donald Trump has agreed to start immediate trade talks with Britain with the goal of preserving current arrangements when it leaves the European Union, Downing Street said Saturday.
The "high-level talks", agreed during Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to the White House on Friday, risk antagonising EU leaders, who have warned London cannot start negotiations with other countries until it exits the bloc.
The bilateral talks, which also include setting up joint working groups, are aimed at laying the groundwork for a new deal that can be signed as soon as possible after Brexit.
"The first step towards achieving this will be a new Trade Negotiation Agreement (TNA) which will see high-level talks between the two nations beginning immediately," a Downing Street spokesman said.
The agreement came in a working lunch with Trump in Washington, where May became the first foreign leader to meet the new US president following his inauguration.
May was keen to secure an early committment to the UK-US "special relationship" from Trump, who has alarmed America's allies with his criticism of Nato and the EU.
She has promised to be "frank" with the president, but drew criticism at home when, during a trip to Turkey on Saturday, she refused to condemn Trump's refugee policy.
Asked three times at a press conference about the executive order suspending refugee arrivals, May replied: "The United States is responsible for the United States' policy on refugees."
She flew back home into a deepening diplomatic storm after it emerged her own MP Nadhim Zahawi would be barred under the clampdown having being born in Iraq, despite holding a British passport, raising calls for her to speak on behalf of affected British citizens.
Germany and France have expressed concern about the policy, while the United Nations said it hoped it was only temporary.
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