President Trump has a "huge appetite" to sign a free trade deal with the UK, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said.

During a visit to the White House to see Vice President Mike Pence, Mr Raab had an unscheduled meeting with Donald Trump too.

"He called me into the Oval Office," Mr Raab said, adding that the president was "effusive in his warmth for the United Kingdom".

The foreign secretary said that achieving a free trade deal would require a lot of work, but "there's a huge appetite on both sides to achieve that".

Pompeo: US will have 'pen in hand' to do post-Brexit trade deal

He and Mr Trump also discussed "all the range of security issues that we share in common", Mr Raab added.


His meeting with the president may be seen as a sign that Mr Trump is keen to repair relations with the UK following a diplomatic row over former ambassador Sir Kim Darroch.

Sir Kim resigned after memos in which he was critical of Mr Trump were leaked to a newspaper.

The foreign secretary also met his opposite number, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

During a news conference, Mr Pompeo said: "However Brexit ultimately shakes out, we'll be on the doorstep, pen in hand, ready to sign a new free trade agreement at the earliest possible time."

Mr Raab's trip to America is intended to "fire up" trade with Britain's non-EU partners.

After meeting Mr Pompeo, Mr Raab said: "On defence, security and intelligence our countries trust each other more deeply. We work together more closely than any others.

"We in the UK really prize that relationship. We value it enormously."