Obama: UK will not receive special trade deal

President Barack Obama has continued insist that the United Kingdom's post-Brexit trade deals with the United States will not be prioritised above those with other countries.

Obama held talks with UK prime minister Theresa May at the G20 summit in China, in order to discuss the two states' relationship as the dust settles on Britain's decision to leave the European Union.

In April the president told Britain that it would be "at the back of the queue" as far as bilateral trade agreements are concerned.

"I’ve committed to Theresa that we will consult closely with her as she and her government move forward on Brexit negotiations to make sure we don't see adverse effects in our trading and commercial relationship," said Obama to reporters at the summit in Hangzhou. "Obviously there is an enormous amount of trade that already takes place... That is not going to stop."

Obama also said that it "would not make sense to put aside" current negotiations with other blocs in favour of Britain.

"The first task is figuring out what Brexit means with respect to Europe. And our first task is making sure we go forward on TTIP negotiations in which we have already invested a lot of time and effort."

May confirmed during the joint conference that her government would not be considering the possibility of a second referendum on its relationship with the EU.

"Brexit does indeed mean Brexit," May said. "On the 23rd of June, the people in the UK voted for the UK to leave the European Union. The government respects that decision."