May tells Trump of 'deep concern' over US trade tariff plans

Sam Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform think-tank, agreed, arguing that convergence in those areas makes “doing a deal with the US incredibly difficult as the majority of their aggressive objectives involve removing regulatory barriers to trade, especially when it comes to food standards”.

He added that it would make sense for the UK to keep its focus on European links. “I’d question the logic of running into a trade deal with a president who sees trade less as a means of achieving mutual prosperity and more an instrument of war.”