Theresa May claims 'world leaders want to sign trade deals with UK as soon as possible'

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May attends a meeting at the G20 (Picture: REUTERS)

Prime Minister Theresa May says other world leaders have claimed they want to sign trade deals with the UK as soon as possible.

Speaking at the G20 summit in Argentina, Mrs May said: “We have had discussions with world leaders including Shinzo Abe and Justin Trudeau and others about free trade deal possibilities.”

Mrs May also said that the next nine days will be an “important time” for the Brexit deal.

“I will be explaining why this is a good deal for the UK that protects economy and protects Brexit. This vote will certainty in the future and failure of the deal will take us to uncertainty,” she said.

Mrs May told reporters that she was offering a good deal.

She added: “I’m representing a good deal to parliament. I’ve been listening and talking to businesses across the EU including Japanese businesses. They’ve given the importance of maintaining a good trade relationship with the EU once we’ve left. This is good for the UK.”

Her comments come after Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe called Mrs May to keep working to pass her Brexit package and maintain stability.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands prior to a bilateral meeting at the G20 Leader's Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina (AP)

Major Japanese companies like Nissan and Honda are thought to be concerned about the impact of a no-deal withdrawal on their supply chains across Europe.

Meeting Mrs May for talks on the margins of the G20 summit, Mr Abe said: "I would like to take this opportunity to express my tribute to your leadership in realising the Withdrawal Agreement as well as the EU's agreement on the Political Declaration.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May attends a meeting at the G20 (REUTERS)

"Also I would like to once again ask for your support to avoid no deal as well as to ensure transparency, predictability as well as legal stability in the Brexit process."

When asked about Argentina’s relations with the UK, Mrs May said that she was “pleased to be able to have a discussion on the future relationship with Argentina and the UK.”

“We have taken important steps including the flight to the Falklands and we look forward to developing our trade relationship with Argentina after we have left the EU.”

During the news conference she was also asked whether she had asked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Mrs May said: “The relationship we have with Saudi Arabia means we can raise difficult issues. What I said to the crown prince yesterday was the importance of a full and transparent investigation and the importance of holding those involved to account.”