Trump's US-UK trade deal could DESTROY bureaucratic EU, warns his likely Brussels envoy
DONALD TRUMP'S desire to strike a US-UK trade deal could spell the end of the European Union with other member states likely wanting to replicate it, the man tipped to be his Brussels envoy has said.
Trump "committed" to UK deal which could break up EU
The President-elect, who is to be inaugurated this Friday, has invited Theresa May to visit him in Washington and wants a trade agreement to be secured between the countries very quickly.
Ted Malloch, who has met with Mr Trump and is being linked with the role as his EU envoy, has claimed the President-elect is “committed” to the deal and it is up to Mrs May to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty so the process can get underway.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Professor Malloch said: “I believe he is committed, as many of us have suggested to him, that such a deal could be done. And, if you want to do something you can facilitate it and it can be done in an expeditious manner.
“I would hope on the day Britain triggers Article 50, Mrs May will be able to announce we’ve just started discussions with the United States – an even larger market for free trade.”
Donald Trump's trade deal circumvents a certain bureaucratic organisation called the European Union
During an interview in The Times with Brexiteer and former cabinet minister Michael Gove, Mr Trump predicted that other countries would follow Britain’s lead in leaving the Union, claiming it had been deeply damaged by the migration crisis.
“I think it’s very tough,” he said. “People, countries want their own identity and the UK wanted its own identity.”
However, Professor Malloch suggested that such a trade agreement between the two nations could have much graver consequences for the soon-to-be 27-member state bloc.
Discussing what the potential deal could entail, he added: “I think you start at the lowest level and you see where it goes.
“You could build up and TTIP (proposed EU-US trade agreement) could probably be a conversation. It’s the EU deal on a bi-lateral basis. Mr Trump has clearly said any trade deal with anyone will be done on a bi-lateral basis.”
The potential ambassador, who was then challenged on whether other EU countries could adopt a similar deal, said: “I think the idea of offering such a deal – again negotiated on a bi-lateral basis – to other European countries is an ingenious one.
“It circumvents a certain bureaucratic organisation called the European Union.
“You’re dealing with President Trump, clearly when it comes to foreign policy, whether it is China or the Middle East, he is willing to turn the table over and do something quite different.
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“If you read the interview I think it’s between the lines [Donald Trump wanting over nations to leave the EU] – on their own accord there are at least three or four, maybe more, European countries who would like to have a referendum, and we’ll see what their populations say.
“Is it a good thing for the UK – you’ve had your referendum? It may be a split decision but it looks like Brexit is Brexit and you’ll be moving ahead.
“Maybe a different economic model, as the Chancellor [Philip Hammond] says could be more Singaporean – in terms of its orientation, entrepreneurial, free trade orientated. I don’t think these are bad things, the world economy is changing.”
EU member states are forbidden from drawing up individual trade deals and instead must negotiate through the EU.
On Tuesday the Prime Minister will give a speech to an audience of diplomats London's Lancaster House, where she is expected to announce the Government is prepared to move ahead with a ‘hard’ Brexit.
She is said to be preparing to make clear that she is willing to sacrifice the UK's membership of the single market and customs union in order to regain greater control over immigration.
An article in the Sunday Telegraph cited “sources familiar with the Prime Minister’s thinking” as saying Mrs May is seeking to appease the eurosceptic wing of her party.
She will also call for an end to the “insults” and “division” surrounding the referendum vote and urge Brexiteers and Remainers to unite behind her unequivocal vision for leaving Europe.
But insiders say it is migration which will sound alarm bells in Brussels.
The EU has refused to budge on its insistence that access to the single market can only come together with free movement – meaning leaving the market is the only way to reclaim the UK’s borders.