Canada's trade deal with the EU will form the basis for Britain's Brexit deal

Theresa May will pledge to use a trade deal already agreed by the European Union and Canada as a basis for a new bilateral arrangement after Brexit.

The Prime Minister will make the pledge when she flies to Canada and the United States of America on a three day visit starting on Monday.

She has repeatedly used the promise of “global Britain” making its own tariff-free trade deals around the world to sell the benefits of Brexit to voters who wanted to remain in the EU.

However, her admission that an existing EU trade deal will form the template for Britain’s post-Brexit arrangements will sound alarm bells with some Leave campaigners, who argue that “copy and paste” trade deals go against one of the major reasons for leaving the EU

Ministers have also said that they want the EU’s trade deal with Japan - which is yet to be completed - to form the basis for Britain’s own post-Brexit trade deal with Asia’s economic powerhouse.

In talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Mrs May will make clear that she wants the UK to agree a trade deal with Canada as soon as possible.

Any deal will be based on the EU/Canada deal which took seven years to negotiate and formally takes effect from Thursday this week.

The deal - known as Ceta - eliminates 98 per cent of all Canadian tariffs between the EU and Canada.

Mrs May will also pledge that Britain will act “as champions for free trade that delivers for all parts of society” after Britain leaves the European Union in March 2019.

Mrs May’s visit to Canada on Monday is her first as a Government minister the first by a British Prime Minister since 2011.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Prime Minister said: “Canada and the United Kingdom have a long shared history. 

“My visit to Canada today is not only about recognising our past but also looking ahead to our bright future. 

"We are both countries with ambitions to lead on the world stage and progressive values that underpin those ambitions – values including the importance of free trade, and respect for international law. 

“When we come together and work as one to project our shared values on the world stage, we form a powerful union.”