A trade deal between the US and UK could happen “very quickly” President Donald Trump has said at a joint press conference with Sir Keir Starmer.

Speaking during the prime minister’s visit to the White House, Trump envisaged “a real trade deal” which could see the UK could avoiding the kind of tariffs the president has been threatening on its trading partners.

Sir Keir said the two countries would begin work on a new economic deal which would be centred on the potential of artificial intelligence.

“Instead of over-regulating these new technologies, we’re seizing the opportunities that they offer,” he said.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs – import taxes – on many of its allies, including 25% on goods made in the European Union. He also ordered a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US – which could hit the UK.

Asked if Sir Keir had tried to dissuade the president from ordering tariffs against the UK, Trump said: “He tried.”

“He was working hard I tell you that. He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there.

“I think there’s a very good chance that in the case of these two great, friendly countries, I think we could very well end up with a real trade deal where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary. We’ll see.”

In a bid to convince the president against UK tariffs, Sir Keir said the US-UK trade relationship was “fair, balanced and reciprocal”.

Since leaving the European Union, successive British leaders have hoped to get a trade deal with the US.

In his first term as president, Trump said talks about a “very substantial” trade deal with the UK were under way.

However, negotiations stalled with disagreements over US agricultural exports and UK taxes on tech companies causing problems.