WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has played down the chances of a post-Brexit free trade deal between the US and UK, as he held talks with Boris Johnson at the White House, BBC has reported.

Biden said he would discuss the issue “a little bit” with UK PM Johnson, adding: “We’re going to have to work that through.”

Downing Street said a direct deal with the US remained the “priority”, according to BBC.

But UK ministers are pondering joining an existing North American trade pact instead, it said.

Biden and Johnson also discussed Northern Ireland, climate change and Afghanistan during the 90-minute meeting.

The UK is keen to strike free trade deals around the world in the wake of leaving the European Union’s single market – including with the US, with which annual trade was worth an estimated $273bn in 2019.

A deal would encourage more business between the two countries by making it cheaper, usually by reducing or eliminating taxes called tariffs.

(With inputs from BBC)