A good trade deal between between the US and UK could trigger the break up of the EU, Donald Trump’s likely next Ambassador to the EU believes
Theodore Malloch said today he is confident a deal between the two countries could be done quickly, which could tempt others into leaving the EU too
A GOOD trade deal between the US and the UK could kick off the breakdown of the European Union, Donald Trump's likely EU ambassador has said.
Theodore Malloch, who is currently a Professor at Henley Business School, said today that he is confident a deal between the two countries could be done quickly after Brexit, which could tempt others into leaving the EU.
Mr Malloch, who has met with Mr Trump and will attend his inauguration later this week, told Radio 4 this morning he was "elated" to see today where the President-elect said he could make a deal happen within months of Britain's exit from the EU.
"I believe he is committed... that such a deal could be done," he said.
"I would hope that on the day that Britain triggers Article 50, Mrs May would be able to announce, 'we've just started discussions with the United States, an even larger market for free trade'."
He said Britain could "absolutely" start talks behind the scenes, and that if a successful deal was made with the UK, trade deals could be on offer to other European countries.
"I think the idea of offering a similar deal to other European countries on a bilateral basis is a genius one and it also circumvents a certain bureaucratic institution called the European Union," he said, hinting of the breakdown of the entire bloc.
The UK can't sign a trade deal with the EU or other countries until it leaves the bloc, but countries such as New Zealand have expressed interest in striking a deal when Britain is in a position to.
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Mr Malloch continued: "You're dealing with President Trump... when it comes to foreign policy, he is willing to turn the table over and do something quite different.
"There are at least three or four other EU countries that would like a referendum and we will see what their populations say."
He also said that he did not thing Brexit was a bad thing, and that the "world economy is changing."
He added: "The pendulum is swinging in the direction of Mr Trump."
Downing Street has welcomed Mr Trump's comments about securing a rapid trade deal, but said that EU rules stop us getting in the way of cracking on with a new agreement.
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".
Mr Trump said he would be inviting Mrs 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.
During an interview with Brexiteer Michael Gove, Mr Trump predicted that other countries would follow Britain's lead in departing from the EU.
He said that it had been "deeply damaged" by the migration crisis, describing it as the "final straw that broke the camel's back".
The President-elect said he had "great respect" for the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but that she had made a "catastrophic mistake" in taking in unlimited refugees.