Trump-May meeting: Clash of ideologies or foundation for trade ties?

The Dollar Business Bureau

Theresa May, leader of post-Brexit UK, intends to express support for free trade and the Iran nuclear deal in her upcoming meet with Donald Trump, on 27 January 2017.

"You can expect the prime minister to be very clear during her U.S. visit on the benefits of free trade and championing them and wanting to look at what more can be done to increase that," the spokesperson said.

"Certainly we have been a strong supporter of the Iran deal, of securing that, and I would expect the prime minister to be clear on that during her visit to the US."

Trump has taken a plethora of bold anti free trade measures, and indicated earlier that he was no fan of the Iran nuclear deal either. The British PM's explicit disapproval of the position of Trump administration on both issues may directly challenge Trump, putting him in a spot.

May, by coming out in full support of free trade, has recently tried to allay fears of Brexit leading to a much more closed UK economy.

May has already announced that the agenda of her US visit would include trade, terrorism and the Syrian crisis. Since Trump has shown keen interest in bilateral trade agreements, in which America's interests wouldn't be compromised, there are good prospects for a UK-US trade pact. Moreover, much enthusiasm has been expressed by Trump for strong UK-US relations.

May has also said that she will not shy away from showing displeasure if she finds Trump's behaviour 'unacceptable'. Countering Trump's demeaning remarks on women during his election campaign, Theresa has said that talking to Trump about shared interests of the two nations, as a female Prime Minister, itself will make a big statement about the role of women.

The importance of NATO is another sensitive issue that Theresa May is likely to touch upon. While Trump has amply expressed his disdain for the military alliance, UK considers it an essential pillar of the post World War II world.