Donald Trump slammed the EU for being 'protectionist' today as he hailed the first round of talks on a 'big and exciting' trade deal with Brexit Britain.

The President said his team was working on a 'major' deal that would help America create new jobs.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has been in Washington for two days at the first gathering of the UK-US trade and investment working group.

He sat down face to face with trade representative Robert Lighthizer for initial talks which he hopes will pave the way for signing a trade deal as soon as possible after Brexit is finalised.

Mr Trump has endorsed the talks twice in recent hours - first tweeting on the official White House account to say it would make the special relationship 'even better' before attacking the EU on his own account.

Donald Trump (pictured yesterday in West Virginia) today declared the special relationship would be 'even better' after Liam Fox open post-Brexit trade talks in Washington DC

President Trump said his administration was working on a 'major trade deal' that would be 'big and exciting'

In a tweet on his official account (pictured), the US President said the talks were the start of a 'new chapter for stronger trade'.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox (right) is meet trade representative Robert Lighthizer (left) for two days of talks (pictured at their first meeting yesterday)

The warm endorsement of the International Trade Secretary's mission came amid a bizarre row over chlorinated chicken that threatened to overshadow the talks.

Dr Fox has been challenged to eat a chicken washed in chlorine live on TV to ease concerns in Britain about the prospect of the food being imported after a deal.

He slammed the media for being 'obsessed' with a tiny detail that would not arise until the very end of the talks.

But the interventions from the President will be a boost to Dr Fox as his US trip ends.

FOX: BRITS OBSESSED WITH CHLORINE CHICKEN Liam Fox has dismissed health concerns about importing chlorine-washed chickens from the US. He said there are bigger issues to focus on when working out a UK-US free trade agreement and condemned the British 'obsession' with chickens. The EU bans the import of meat washed in chlorine amid concerns it lowers food safety standards. Asked if he would eat a chlorine-washed chicken, Dr Fox said: 'In a debate which should be about how we make our contribution to global liberalisation… the British media are obsessed with chlorine-washed chickens, a detail of the very end stage of one sector of a potential free trade agreement.' Advertisement

On his official Twitter account, Mr Trump said: 'Our special relationship with UK is going to be even better.

'US Trade Rep and UK's Liam Fox met today to begin new chapter for stronger trade.'

He added later on his personal account: 'Working on major trade deal with the United Kingdom.

'Could be very big and exciting. JOBS!

'The EU is very protectionist with the US. STOP!'

New Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable poured cold water on the benefits of any prospective deal.

He claimed any agreement struck with America would not offset the potential losses of leaving the European Single Market and Customs Union.

Sir Vince told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme: "Well I think we've learnt in the last few months to take anything President Trump says with a pinch of salt.

"It is certainly possible that there could post-Brexit be a trade deal with the US, it's one of the few that might actually happen, unlike China, India, which are much more difficult."

He added: "It could be significant, it's not remotely comparable to the potential losses if we withdraw from the European Single Market and the Customs Union, but it would provide potentially some trade benefits."

The warm endorsement of the International Trade Secretary (pictured arriving at the talks yesterday) came amid a bizarre row over chlorinated chicken that threatened to overshadow the talks

An initial two-day meeting of the UK-US trade and investment working group (pictured as the talks began) is due to wrap up today

Dr Fox has been challenged to eat a chicken washed in chlorine live on TV to ease concerns in Britain about the prospect of the food being imported after a deal

President Trump is deeply controversial in Britain and a planned state visit has been delayed until next year amid fears of angry protests.

Many US supermarkets sell chicken that is washed in chlorine to kill bacteria. It is much cheaper than British food (file image) but fails current food safety standards

Prime Minister Theresa May has made strong efforts to get close to the President since his inauguration and could invite him to London for a lower profile official visit first.

Mr Trump made a visit to France earlier this month to join Bastille Day celebrations in a personal visit with President Emmanuel Macron.

Speaking from Washington DC yesterday, Dr Fox told remainers to accept the result of the referendum and help secure the best outcome for the UK rather than seek to 'thwart' Brexit.

He said: 'Those who are still intent on trying to thwart the process, or seem to hope that something will magically appear that will change the referendum results, they are dreaming.'

But as he embarks on a trade charm offensive in the US, the talks have been hit by a row over whether American chlorine-washed chickens could hit British supermarket shelves under a post-Brexit trade deal.

Many US supermarkets sell chicken that is washed in chlorine to kill bacteria. It is much cheaper than British food but fails current food safety standards.

New Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable (pictured at his coronation last week) poured cold water on the benefits of any prospective deal

Dr Fox is said to be keen to agree with US producers that imports to Britain be allowed after Brexit but is said to be opposed by Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who insists current food standards must be maintained.

He tried to sooth concerns by stressing that the decision on chlorine-washed chickens would be taken at the 'very end stage' of a potential US-UK free trade deal.

Asked if he would feel comfortable eating a chlorine-washed chicken, Dr Fox said: 'In a debate which should be about how we make our contribution to global liberalisation and the increased prosperity of both the UK, the US and our trading partners....

'The British media are obsessed with chlorine-washed chickens, a detail of the very end stage of one sector of a potential free trade agreement.

'I say no more than that.'

Theresa May's official spokesman said it was too early to discuss specific details of any trade deal, such as the issue of chlorinated chicken.

The spokesman was challenged at a regular Westminster media briefing over whether the Government was guaranteeing to maintain EU-level food standards after Brexit.

He said: 'Our position when it comes to food is that maintaining the safety and public confidence in the food we eat is of the highest priority Any future trade deal must work for UK farmers, businesses and consumers.'

Campaign group Open Britain issued a challenge for Dr Fox to eat chlorine-washed chicken during his US visit.

The group's executive director James McGrory said: 'If the International Trade Secretary wants the public to trust him, he needs to take the opportunity while he's in the US and devour a chlorine-washed chicken live on camera.

'The choice of recipe is up to him, but one serving suggestion might be Chlorination Chicken.

'The proof of the chicken is in the eating and if Dr Fox thinks it's safe, he should put his money where his mouth is. If he doesn't, he is just chicken.'

Free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute said American chickens are more than a fifth cheaper than British ones and claimed three entire chlorine-washed birds would have to be eaten every day for an extended period to risk harm.

It warned that poultry market access is likely to be a take-it-or-leave-it condition of an agreement between the UK and US.

Dr Fox is said to be keen to agree with US producers that imports to Britain be allowed after Brexit but is said to be opposed by Environment Secretary Michael Gove (pictured right with the Trade Secretary in Downing Street last week)

Mr Fox will also meet commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, give a speech at the American Enterprise Institute and host a breakfast with members of Congress on the trade tour before heading to Mexico for talks with economy minister Ildefonso Guajardo.

European Union rules mean the UK cannot sign a deal until after it has quit the bloc but the discussions will pave the way for a future potential free trade agreement.

Dr Fox said: 'The first meeting of the UK-US trade and investment working group is the start of the next chapter in our special relationship.

'Although it's too early to say exactly what would be covered in a potential deal, the working group is the means to ensure we get to know each other's issues and identify areas where we can work together to strengthen trade and investment ties.

'Our work as an international economic department has never been more important and our exit from the European Union offers an unprecedented opportunity to reshape our independent trading ambitions and build on the already strong trading relationship with our single largest trading partner - the US'.