Britain was seeking to fast-track a crucial post-Brexit trade deal with the United States on Wednesday after new Prime Minister Boris Johnson dispatched his top diplomat and foreign trade minister to Washington.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was due to hold talks with his US counterpart Mike Pompeo at the State Department while the International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has lined up meetings with top American trade officials.

With Johnson determined to ensure Britain leaves the European Union on October 31, with or without a deal, striking some kind of trade accord with the Trump administration has taken on even greater importance.

Trump, who sees a like-minded leader in Johnson, has said that trade between the two countries could multiply once Britain leaves the EU and spoke to the British prime minister about a deal within days of his taking office last month.

"Negotiating and signing an exciting new free trade agreement with the US is one of my top priorities," said Truss, who supported remaining in the EU in the 2016 referendum but later changed her position.

"Having already laid the groundwork, we are fast-tracking this deal so that businesses can take advantage of the golden opportunity to increase trade with the US as soon as possible," she added.

"The US is our biggest trading partner and we have more than $1 trillion invested in each other's economies. We want to get formal talks moving quickly."

Truss was due to meet Tuesday with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross later in the week, US officials said.

After his first phone call with Johnson, Trump told reporters that a bilateral deal with post-Brexit Britain could be "three to four, five times" bigger than current trade and once London is out of the European Union "we could do much more."

"We're working on a trade agreement already," Trump said. "I think it will be a very substantial trade agreement."

'Desperate' for a deal

Johnson, clearly enjoying warmer relations with Trump than his predecessor Theresa May, is hoping that he can clinch a swift deal that can send a message of Britain's ability to strike out on its own.

Trump's apparent enthusiasm for a deal is in marked contrast to the attitude of his predecessor Barack Obama, who said that Britain would be at the "back of the queue" for any kind of trade deal if it left the EU.

But there are warnings that Johnson's willingness to leave the EU without a negotiated settlement with Britain's longtime partners will play into the hands of Trump who prides himself on being a master negotiator.

Trump's good ties with leaders such as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have not prevented him from playing hardball in negotiations with allies.

Larry Summers, who was US treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, said that Britain could not mask the weakness of its hand.

"Look at it from America's point of view: Britain has much less to give than Europe as a whole did, therefore less reason for the United States to make concessions," he told BBC Radio 4 earlier this week.

"You make more concessions dealing with a wealthy man than you do dealing with a poor man.

"Britain has no leverage. Britain is desperate. Britain has nothing else. It needs an agreement very soon. When you have a desperate partner, that's when you strike the hardest bargain."

Last year, the United States ran a $20 billion trade surplus with Britain. The two countries exchanged $262 billion in goods and services, according to the US Trade Representative's office, meaning Britain was America's fifth-largest export market.

Top US exports are financial services and aircraft while British exports include autos and tourism.

Britain was seeking to fast-track a crucial post-Brexit trade deal with the United States on Wednesday after new Prime Minister Boris Johnson dispatched his top diplomat and foreign trade minister to Washington.

Britain was seeking to fast-track a crucial post-Brexit trade deal with the United States on Wednesday after new Prime Minister Boris Johnson dispatched his top diplomat and foreign trade minister to Washington. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was due to hold talks with his US counterpart Mike Pompeo at the State Department while the International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has lined up meetings with top American trade officials. With Johnson determined to ensure Britain leaves the European Union on October 31, with or without a deal, striking some kind of trade accord with the Trump administration has taken on even greater importance. Trump, who sees a like-minded leader in Johnson, has said that trade between the two countries could multiply once Britain leaves the EU and spoke to the British prime minister about a deal within days of his taking office last month. "Negotiating and signing an exciting new free trade agreement with the US is one of my top priorities," said Truss, who supported remaining in the EU in the 2016 referendum but later changed her position. "Having already laid the groundwork, we are fast-tracking this deal so that businesses can take advantage of the golden opportunity to increase trade with the US as soon as possible," she added. "The US is our biggest trading partner and we have more than $1 trillion invested in each other's economies. We want to get formal talks moving quickly." Truss was due to meet Tuesday with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross later in the week, US officials said. After his first phone call with Johnson, Trump told reporters that a bilateral deal with post-Brexit Britain could be "three to four, five times" bigger than current trade and once London is out of the European Union "we could do much more." "We're working on a trade agreement already," Trump said. "I think it will be a very substantial trade agreement." 'Desperate' for a deal Johnson, clearly enjoying warmer relations with Trump than his predecessor Theresa May, is hoping that he can clinch a swift deal that can send a message of Britain's ability to strike out on its own. Trump's apparent enthusiasm for a deal is in marked contrast to the attitude of his predecessor Barack Obama, who said that Britain would be at the "back of the queue" for any kind of trade deal if it left the EU. But there are warnings that Johnson's willingness to leave the EU without a negotiated settlement with Britain's longtime partners will play into the hands of Trump who prides himself on being a master negotiator. Trump's good ties with leaders such as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have not prevented him from playing hardball in negotiations with allies. Larry Summers, who was US treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, said that Britain could not mask the weakness of its hand. "Look at it from America's point of view: Britain has much less to give than Europe as a whole did, therefore less reason for the United States to make concessions," he told BBC Radio 4 earlier this week. "You make more concessions dealing with a wealthy man than you do dealing with a poor man. "Britain has no leverage. Britain is desperate. Britain has nothing else. It needs an agreement very soon. When you have a desperate partner, that's when you strike the hardest bargain." Last year, the United States ran a $20 billion trade surplus with Britain. The two countries exchanged $262 billion in goods and services, according to the US Trade Representative's office, meaning Britain was America's fifth-largest export market. Top US exports are financial services and aircraft while British exports include autos and tourism.

British ministers in US to 'fast-track' post-Brexit trade deal

Three junior British ministers quit <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-vote-to-seize-control-of-brexit-for-a-day-205630">Prime Minister Theresa May</a>'s government over Brexit on Monday.

Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, health minister Steve Brine resigned and business minister Richard Harrington announced&nbsp;his decision to leave the government on Twitter, according to news agency AFP.

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This evening I wrote to the PM to offer her my resignation <a href="https://t.co/Z0QU5lbeJ1">pic.twitter.com/Z0QU5lbeJ1</a>
— Richard Harrington (@Richard4Watford) <a href="https://twitter.com/Richard4Watford/status/1110302682835759106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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They refused to support Theresa May over giving more say to MPs in leaving the European Union.

Around 30 members of May's Conservative party defied her to vote in favour of a motion giving MPs control of parliamentary business later this week to try to come up with an alternative Brexit plan.

Harrington in his resignation letter said that the government's approach was "playing roulette with the lives and livelihoods of the vast majority of people in this country".

"As the UK's industry minister, the clear message I have been receiving from the business community is that the failure to secure a deal and to rule out a hard Brexit is resulting in cancelled investment decisions, business being placed abroad, and a sense of ridicule for British business, across the world," Harrington wrote.

Several ministers had quit May's government overBrexit.

Last year in November, British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned. The 44-year-old was appointed to the role of Brexit minister in July last year following the resignation of his predecessor David Davis, who also quit in protest at May's Brexit strategy.

Three junior British ministers quit Prime Minister Theresa May's government over Brexit on Monday. Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, health minister Steve Brine resigned and business minister Richard Harrington announced his decision to leave the government on Twitter, according to news agency AFP.

Three junior British ministers quit Prime Minister Theresa May's government over Brexit on Monday. Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, health minister Steve Brine resigned and business minister Richard Harrington announced his decision to leave the government on Twitter, according to news agency AFP. This evening I wrote to the PM to offer her my resignation pic.twitter.com/Z0QU5lbeJ1 — Richard Harrington (@Richard4Watford) March 25, 2019 × They refused to support Theresa May over giving more say to MPs in leaving the European Union. Around 30 members of May's Conservative party defied her to vote in favour of a motion giving MPs control of parliamentary business later this week to try to come up with an alternative Brexit plan. Harrington in his resignation letter said that the government's approach was "playing roulette with the lives and livelihoods of the vast majority of people in this country". "As the UK's industry minister, the clear message I have been receiving from the business community is that the failure to secure a deal and to rule out a hard Brexit is resulting in cancelled investment decisions, business being placed abroad, and a sense of ridicule for British business, across the world," Harrington wrote. Several ministers had quit May's government overBrexit. Last year in November, British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned. The 44-year-old was appointed to the role of Brexit minister in July last year following the resignation of his predecessor David Davis, who also quit in protest at May's Brexit strategy.

Three junior British ministers quit over Brexit: Sources

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British ministers in US to 'fast-track' post-Brexit trade deal

Three junior British ministers quit over Brexit: Sources