WASHINGTON, United States — United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (left) and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right), shake hands during a joint press event at the State Department on August 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo: AFP)

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The top US and British diplomats said Wednesday they were prepared to move “as soon as possible” on a trade deal after Britain’s planned withdrawal from the European Union (EU) on October 31.

Speaking in Washington, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged the EU to negotiate a new pact on Britain’s departure to avoid a potentially calamitous “no-deal” Brexit.

Raab said, after meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the two sides agreed on the need for quick negotiations on a two-way deal after Brexit strands Britain outside the US-EU trade pact.

“America is our single largest bilateral trading partner. President Trump has made clear again that he wants an ambitious free trade agreement with UK, so I hope that we can make that happen as soon as possible after we leave the EU on the 31st of October,” Raab told reporters.

Standing at Raab’s side, Pompeo said Washington supports London’s “sovereign choice” in withdrawing from the European Union, whatever happens.

“However Brexit ultimately shakes out, we’ll be on the doorstep hand in hand, ready to sign a new free trade agreement at the earliest possible time,” Pompeo said.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/us-britain-back-rapid-trade-deal-post-brexit_171815