Mr Lighthizer used the letter, dated October 16, to set out the desire of the US to strike an “ambitious” deal which removes “existing goods and services tariff and non-tariff barriers”. He said preparatory work with Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, was already underway and that the Trump administration hoped to agree a “free, fair and reciprocal” deal. “This work includes laying the groundwork for a potential future free trade agreement, so that we will be well prepared to begin negotiations once the United Kingdom has formally exited the European Union,” he said. A Government spokesman said: “The UK welcomes the US Administration’s confirmation that it intends to begin negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the UK once we have left the EU. ‘The UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group has been exploring ways to boost trade and investment ties, including laying the groundwork for a future free trade agreement, and the talks have been positive. “The Government is taking steps to ensure we are ready to begin negotiations including through consulting the British public on their views on what a Free Trade Agreement should look like.” Separately Dr Fox said Brexit offered "a once in a generation chance to shape a better future for our own people, realise the highest ambitions of our businesses, and offer real leadership on free trade in an often uncertain and divided world.
US President Donald Trump sent a formal notification to EU stating his intention to begin negotiating a trade agreement with the UK "as soon as" the country leaves the Congress. The announcement was a positive development for Prime Minister Theresa May, who could use a potential agreement as a bargaining chip as she struggles to gain support for a Brexit deal. The US confirmed that preparation is already underway to begin talks for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, long hailed by eurosceptics as a major post-Brexit prize.