Downing Street welcomes Donald Trump’s pledge to secure rapid agreement with Britain post-Brexit but EU rules get in the way of quick trade deal

DOWNING Street has welcomed Donald Trump's pledge to secure a rapid trade agreement with Britain but EU rules stop us from getting cracking on a new deal.

The Prime Minister’s official spokeswoman said she welcomed “the enthusiasm and energy the President-elect and his team are showing for engaging with the UK” in his interview with Michel Gove.

But she stressed that Britain will respect Brussels regulations which bar countries signing agreements with third parties so long as it remains a member.

Mr Trump said he would be inviting Theresa May for early talks in Washington following his inauguration on Friday and predicted that leaving the European Union would be a "great thing" for the UK.

This was in contrast to Barack Obama, who said Britain would be at the "back of the queue" when it came to a trade deal with the US.

"We're going to work very hard to get it done quickly and done properly. Good for both sides," he said.

"I will be -meeting with (Mrs May). She's requesting a meeting and we'll have a meeting right after I get into the White House.

“I think we're going to get something done very quickly."

Responding to the comments, Mrs May's official spokeswoman said: "We welcome the commitment from the president-elect to engage with the UK on this, to work together to agree a deal quickly.

"That highlights one of the opportunities of the UK leaving the EU."

She also said it would be possible to hold "scoping discussions" before Brexit takes place on possible measures to bring down barriers to UK-US trade.

And the spokeswoman added: "We welcome the enthusiasm and energy the president-elect and his team are showing for engaging with the UK."

She also confirmed that the PM sent Mr Trump a Christmas gift of a copy of Winston Churchill's address following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, in which he expressed his hope that the British and American people would "walk together in majesty, in justice and in peace".

In a letter, she said she hoped the feeling of "unity and fraternal association" between the two countries was "as true today as it has ever been".

The Prime Minister's spokeswoman said it appeared Mr Trump was "delighted" with the gift - sent a few days after Christmas - but indicated that he had not sent Mrs May anything in return.