U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, left, with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo | Zach Gibson/Getty Images Mike Pompeo: US will be ready with ‘pen in hand’ to sign post-Brexit trade deal ‘However Brexit ultimately shakes out, and we’ll be on the doorstep.’

WASHINGTON — The United States will be on Britain’s “doorstep, pen in hand” to sign a trade deal as soon as possible after the U.K. leaves the European Union, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.

The chief U.S. diplomat made the comment alongside Britain’s new foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, who was in Washington as part of a North American trip aimed at strengthening ties with non-European countries ahead of Brexit.

The pair appeared buoyant about the U.S.-British relationship, despite the strains caused by differences over how to deal with Iran, climate change and other issues.

U.K. officials hope new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump will eventually lead to a bilateral trade deal.

Pompeo seemed to give those hopes a boost, although he’s not a major player in the Trump administration when it comes to striking trade deals.

“We support the United Kingdom’s sovereign choice, however Brexit ultimately shakes out, and we’ll be on the doorstep, pen in hand, ready to sign a new free-trade agreement at the earliest possible time,” he said.

Raab said the U.K. is “absolutely resolved” to be out of the EU by the end of October. Once Britain is out, it expects to be free to strike bilateral trade deals with other countries. Raab also reiterated the new U.K. government's insistence that Brussels must be willing to reopen the Brexit deal struck with Theresa May.

“If the EU’s position is that there can be no change to the Withdrawal Agreement, then that will be a choice that they’ve made,” Raab said.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has warned U.K. Conservatives that Congress would block any trade deal if it was viewed as jeopardizing the Good Friday Peace agreement and rank-and-file lawmakers active on Irish issues, both Democrats and Republicans, have said they will oppose any trade deal with the U.K. if there is no Withdrawal Agreement that includes a backstop provision to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.