(VOVworld) - A top US trade official said Thursday that he has held preliminary discussions with British government officials about how the two countries might pursue a trade deal after Britain leaves the European Union (EU).

The British pound (Archive photo: EPA/VNA)

US Trade Representative Michael Froman said he discussed a possible bilateral trade agreement with Sajid Javid and Mark Price, Britain's outgoing business and trade secretaries, earlier this week.

But he hasn't yet spoken with Liam Fox, the incoming secretary for international trade in the new government headed by new Prime Minister Theresa May.

Froman said it remains unclear when discussions can be turned into negotiations and that more meetings are needed. There are many trade cooperation deals the US and the UK can pursue, including the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Froman said future trade relations between the US and Britain will in part depend on Britain's new relationship with the EU.