LONDON, 18 Jul (ANA) - Britain's charge towards the EU exit is proceeding at a cracking pace with work on a string of trade deals already underway in Whitehall, the Daily Express newspaper has reported. Ministers are preparing the ground for rapid negotiations on new agreements with around a dozen countries to meet their timetable for leaving the European bloc in the early months of 2019. Cabinet minister David Davis, the newly appointed EU Exit Secretary, said: "We’re talking to large numbers of people who all want to help and we’ll get a very, very large trade area, much bigger than the European Union, probably ten times the size." Countries queuing up to trade with Britain outside the EU were thought to include Australia, the US, New Zealand, India, Mexico, South Korea and Iceland.

In a further push to accelerate the Brexit process, Prime Minsiter Theresa May will today travel to Cardiff for the latest round of talks with the leaders of devolved assemblies in her effort to ensure a united UK approach to the EU departure negotiations. "She has been very clear about taking a UK-wide approach to the Brexit negotiations and she is getting on with it," a Downing Street insider said. Senior ministers also confirmed that work on a plan for re-establishing border controls was underway with a warning that new EU migrants who attempt to come to Britain before Brexit takes place could be sent home.

The efforts across Whitehall last night were being seen as an indication that a Government plan for Brexit was swiftly being put into place. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said he was "scoping about a dozen free-trade deals to be ready for when we leave." He had opened "very fruitful" negotiations with Canada on Friday, he revealed, and is expected to fly to Washington for to meet the White House's most senior trade negotiator within days. "We can make Britain a beacon for open trade," Dr Fox said. "We've already had a number of countries saying - we'd love to do a trade deal with the world's fifth biggest economy without having to deal with the other 27 members of the EU." Mrs May spoke to Australian premier Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday, who said he was keen to strike a trade deal with the UK "as soon as possible". Mr Davis, who was given the crucial new post of Brexit minister in Mrs May's reshuffle, yesterday said the Government was aiming to keep tariff-free trade with EU nations after Brexit. "It whether we keep tariff-free access that is the issue and I think yes, I think that is what we are aiming for," he said.(ANA)

FA/ANA/18 July 2016--------