Brexit: Trump says May's Brexit plan could hurt UK-US trade deal

[original PM]

Ok well - there are a large amount of fine dining places in the US.

If you know where to look

there are also a large amount of greasy spoons, diners, drives-ins and dives.

[meridian]

I think it's obvious. The UK cannot make new trade deals during the transition period without EU involvement as the transition has UK still within the EU rules but with hands tied.

So Trump says that a new US-UK trade deal would be in jeopardy as UK is not free agent to make own deal with USA until after transition period, and no guarantee of what will be put in place after then in terms of ties to EU and its rules to ensure UK is free to make new trade deal with US even then.

i.e. While May is determined to keep the UK in the EU at least BRINO then the EU still has a say in what trade deals the UK can make and currently that is none without the EU.

Pretty much correct, though trade deals can still happen now within the framework of existing regulations and tariffs. Therefore, what Trump is expecting is a divergence from our existing regulations and tariffs.

Once we are out of transition, any sufficient divergence from EU rules in order to gain a trade agreement with the USA will naturally lead to a reduction in what is possible with the EU.