Brexit victory as Donald Trump throws 'nasty' EU to back of queue for trade deal

The EU has received a major blow this morning after Donald Trump condemned the 'nasty' bloc and shunted them to the back of the queue for a trade deal. Speaking to reporters overnight, the US president condemned Brussels for treating America "very unfairly".

"They sell us 13m cars. We sell them none. They sell us their agricultural products. We sell them virtually none. They don't take our products. That gives us all the cards. The European Union is in many ways nastier than China, and we've just started with them. Oh, they'll come down a lot. You watch." Europe's trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, has visited Washington in the past month to hold initial talks.

This weekend, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she would be willing to meet with the President if there was a "concrete package to discuss".

The Tories have immediately leapt on the comments as further proof that Sir Keir Starmer was only able to achieve last week's trade deal breakthrough with the States as a result of Brexit.

Andrew Griffith, the party's shadow Trade Secretary, told the Express: "When it comes to genuinely open trade, the protectionist and low growth EU is always at the back of the class."

"Thanks to Brexit, the UK is in the room, able to discuss its own deals directly with markets like the Gulf, India and the US.

"Ahead of his 'Surrender Summit' next week, the Prime Minister should rethink any plans he has to turn the U.K. into an EU rule taker on trade."

Mr Griffith's comments stand in stark contrast to those of minister Darren Jones who last Friday refused to say whether the UK-US trade deal is a Brexit benefit.

Mr Jones replied: "I mean, who knows? I mean, we left the European Union a very long time ago. What I do know is that we are the first country in the world to be able to secure a new trade deal with the president of the United States of America."

"That is a great vindication of the strategy of the Prime Minister in being able to negotiate that with the president."

President Trump announced the deal at the White House on Thursday, in a ceremony attended by US officials and UK ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson.

Mr Trump said the agreement was "a great deal for both countries", and confirmed the UK would "reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers" under its terms.

By contrast the EU was initially whacked with much higher tariffs by Donald Trump, at 20% on all goods with 25% on vehicles and car parts.