Washington: The White House will formally tell the United Nations on Friday that it intends to abandon the Paris agreement on climate change but remains open to "re-engaging" on the accord.

The United States will participate in UN climate negotiations later this year despite its planned withdrawal, according to the administration's statement of intent.

The letter has no legal weight and does not set in motion the United States' departure from the pact of nearly 200 nations to curb planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Rather, those familiar with it said, it is a political document that affirms President Donald Trump's declaration in June that the Paris agreement is a "bad deal" for the United States.

"As the President indicated in his June 1 announcement and subsequently, he is open to re-engaging in the Paris Agreement if the US can identify terms that are more favourable to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, and its taxpayers," the White House statement says.