'Sometimes opposites attract', Theresa May arrives in US for trade talks with Donald Trump

Jamie Bullen27 January 2017
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Theresa May has touched down in the US and revealed she expects to forge a strong relationship with Donald Trump because "sometimes opposites attract".

Mrs May arrived in Philadelphia on Thursday ahead of her meeting with Mr Trump on Friday as she becomes the first world leader Mr Trump will meet as US President.

The pair are expected to discuss a trade deal between Britain and the US with Mrs May keen to strike a deal to quell fears over Britain’s impending split from the European Union.

And Mrs May said she hoped to build strong links with Mr Trump as she dismissed predictions of a character clash during their face-to-face meeting.

Mr Trump revealed he will handle the trade negotiations "by himself" ahead of Mrs May's visit as he didn't have a commerce secretary.

Trade talks: The pair are expected to discuss a trade deal between Britain and the US on Friday
PA

Speaking to reporters on her flight to the US, Mrs May said: "We have an opportunity through this early meeting with Donald Trump to start that process of building on that special relationship - a special relationship which is in our national interest and I think is in their national interest.

"And I think that we can together not just build that special relationship, but do it in a way that is good for both of us and good more widely."

Although no talks on a formal free trade agreement can begin until the UK leaves the EU, Mrs May made clear she hopes to use the Oval Office meeting to start tearing down barriers to trade.

There was much that could be done now to "remove some of the barriers to trade in a number of areas, so we are able to see an advantage to both of us even if we haven't been able to sign that legal free trade agreement", she said.

In a speech to Republican congressmen on Thursday, Mrs May was due to say that Mr Trump's election and the Brexit referendum have provided the two countries with an opportunity to "renew" their links, restore their confidence and "lead together again" in the world.

Landed: Theresa May arrived at Philadelphia on Thursday
PA

Asked whether she saw parallels between their approaches, she said: "I think we both share a desire to make sure that governments are working for everyone and that particularly governments are working for ordinary working families and working-class families.

"I think that's important. That's what I spoke about on the steps of Number 10 when I became Prime Minister. I think we share that interest and that intention in both our countries."

Mrs May laughed off suggestions that their contrasting personalities might prove a barrier to a good working relationship with Mr Trump, asking reporters: "Haven't you ever noticed that sometimes opposites attract?"

And she dismissed the suggestion that she may not be able to trust a politician who has shown himself willing to repeat in public assertions which have been comprehensively written off as false.

Asked whether she feared that UK voters may think she is getting too close, too quickly with a president about whom many have deep misgivings, Mrs May said: "Donald Trump was elected President of the United States of America.

"The United Kingdom and the USA have shared interests, shared challenges that we can work together to deal with.

"We have a special relationship. It is a long-standing relationship, it's existed through many different prime ministers and presidents.

"I want to build on that relationship. I believe from the conversations I've already had with Donald Trump he does too.

"I believe there's a role for the UK and the US working together that we can play in standing up for our shared interests and our shared values."

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