Speaking after talks with Theresa May last week, Trump said that the relationship between the UK and his country was “the highest level of special”.

Prime minister May also said they had discussed plans for an “ambitious” trade agreement, as the UK prepares to leave the European Union in March next year.

Referring to an interview he gave to The Sun in which the president was critical of May’s Brexit plan and suggested a UK-US deal was not viable, Trump said: “I read reports where [a trade deal] won’t be possible, but I believe after speaking with the prime minister’s people and representatives and trade experts it will absolutely be possible.”

This follows months of trade tension across the world after the US announced plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium in March. The 25% tariff on steel and 10% on aluminium imports came into force in June.

Other nations have retaliated against the US and imposed tariffs on US imports as a countermeasure.

The EU imposed duties of £2.4bn on products, such as bourbon whiskey, motorcycles and orange juice, which took effect on 22 June.

Canada also announced it would impose tariffs on imports of US metal products and other items, such as yoghurt, coffee and water.