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Post-Brexit trade deal with US could take 10 years, Obama warns Post-Brexit trade deal with US could take 10 years, Obama warns
(about 7 hours later)
The UK could take up to 10 years to negotiate trade deals with the US if it leaves the EU, Barack Obama has said.The UK could take up to 10 years to negotiate trade deals with the US if it leaves the EU, Barack Obama has said.
In a BBC interview, the US president said: "It could be five years from now, 10 years from now before we were able to actually get something done."In a BBC interview, the US president said: "It could be five years from now, 10 years from now before we were able to actually get something done."
It came a day after he said the UK would be at "the back of the queue" for US trade deals in the case of Brexit. Britain would also have less influence globally if it left, he added.
His comments have angered campaigners for leaving the EU. Mayor of London Boris Johnson called them hypocritical. His warning over UK-US trade deals have angered campaigners for leaving the EU - with Mayor of London Boris Johnson calling his comments "hypocritical".
More from President Obama's exclusive interview can be seen from 06:00 BST on Sunday 24 April across BBC News outlets Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who co-chairs Vote Leave, said it was "extraordinary" that the US should urge Britain to remain part of a "dysfunctional organisation".
Mr Obama told the BBC: "The UK would not be able to negotiate something with the United States faster than the EU. On Friday, Mr Obama said the UK would be at the "back of the queue" for trade deals with the US, if it left the EU.
Asked about the comments, he said: "The UK would not be able to negotiate something with the United States faster than the EU.
"We wouldn't abandon our efforts to negotiate a trade deal with our largest trading partner, the European market.""We wouldn't abandon our efforts to negotiate a trade deal with our largest trading partner, the European market."
Democrat US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also made it clear she thought it would be a mistake for the UK to leave the EU. Mr Obama was speaking as he prepared to leave the UK at the end of his three-day visit.
During a wide-ranging interview, he said:
His fresh intervention in the EU debate comes as Democratic US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton also made it clear she thought it would be a mistake for the UK to leave the union.
Her senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan said: "Hillary Clinton believes that transatlantic co-operation is essential, and that co-operation is strongest when Europe is united.Her senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan said: "Hillary Clinton believes that transatlantic co-operation is essential, and that co-operation is strongest when Europe is united.
"She has always valued a strong United Kingdom in a strong EU. And she values a strong British voice in the EU." "She values a strong British voice in the EU."
The Vote Leave campaign said Ms Clinton's comments were "hollow" as "Hillary isn't standing on a ticket of handing power over America's borders, economy and trade policy to a foreign power". The Vote Leave campaign said Mrs Clinton's comments were "hollow", but a Downing Street source said "we should listen to our closest friends and allies".
But a Downing Street source said: "We should listen to our closest friends and allies. The UK's referendum on whether the country should stay in the EU or leave will take place on 23 June.
"Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been absolutely clear - we're safer, stronger and better off remaining in a reformed EU." 'More influence'
The UK's referendum on whether the UK should stay in the European or leave will take place on 23 June. Returning to the UK's place in the EU, Mr Obama said the US wanted the UK to be "at the table" influencing countries that might not see things from a US view.
On Friday, UKIP leader Nigel Farage accused Mr Obama of doing Downing Street's "bidding" and "talking down Britain", and Tory Liam Fox said his views were "irrelevant". Despite criticism from pro-Brexit campaigners, he said he thought "ordinary British voters" would be interested in his thoughts on the UK and the EU.
Mr Johnson said the UK could be in a more favourable position to strike a trade deal with the US if it left the EU. The US president warned the UK would have "less influence in Europe and as a consequence, less influence globally", if it left the EU.
"I've got great respect for President Obama and the office of the American president," he said. "I was one of the first to say how wonderful it would be if he became president. "Since we rely heavily on the UK as a partner globally on a whole range of issues, we'd like you to have more influence," he told the BBC.
"But I think a lot of people in this country will think 'give me a break folks'. His intervention in the EU referendum has drawn fierce criticism from pro-Brexit campaigners.
"We haven't had a trade deal with America for 43 years. Why not? Do you know why not? Because we're in the European Union." Ms Stuart said: "What I think is so extraordinary is that an American president should urge us to join [sic] an utterly dysfunctional organisation.
Mr Obama is pushing hard for a proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal. "We should shape the future by leaving an organisation that is neither capable of reforming nor changing."
TTIP is primarily a deal to cut tariffs and regulatory barriers to trade between the US and EU countries. London mayor Mr Johnson said the UK could be in a more favourable position to strike a trade deal with the US if it left the EU.
Mr Obama says it would create millions of jobs and increase trade by lowering tariffs. "We haven't had a trade deal with America for 43 years. Why not? Do you know why not? Because we're in the European Union," he said.
But opponents say the deal would drive down wages, and weaken environmental protection and labour rights. 'Best mother I know'
The negotiations were launched three years ago, and the next round is due to open on Monday in New York. Mr Obama was also asked about his priorities for the final nine months of his presidency.
Mr Obama is on a three-day visit to the UK with his wife Michelle - his final trip to Britain as US president. He mentioned the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, prosecuting the campaign against so-called Islamic State, and concluding a trade agreement with the EU.
The couple visited the Queen at Windsor Castle the day after the monarch's 90th birthday, and Mr Obama had talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. Mr Obama is pushing hard for a proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal, to cut tariffs and regulatory barriers between the US and EU countries.
On Saturday, Mr Obama visited the Globe theatre where he watched actors perform scenes from Hamlet as part of events to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare. The president also praised the First Lady, his wife, Michelle.
He had a meeting with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and played golf with Mr Cameron. "I cannot separate anything that I've achieved from the partnership that I've had with that remarkable woman," he told the BBC.
"First and foremost, she's the best mother I know, and my daughters are amazing because of her parenting.
"I am labour, she's management, you know, so I can take very little credit beyond executing some of the plans that she has."
'Reject pessimism'
Mr Obama's visit to the UK is likely to be his last as US president.
On Saturday, he visited the Globe theatre where he watched actors perform scenes from Hamlet as part of events to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare.
Speaking in London, he urged young people to "reject pessimism and cynicism" and "know that progress is possible and problems can be solved".Speaking in London, he urged young people to "reject pessimism and cynicism" and "know that progress is possible and problems can be solved".
Later, he had a meeting with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and played golf with Mr Cameron.
On Friday, Mr and Mrs Obama visited the Queen at Windsor Castle and held talks with Mr Cameron, before dining with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace.