<span style="color: #222222;">The top American and British diplomats today said that they are prepared to move "as soon as possible" on a trade deal after Britain's planned withdrawal from the European Union (EU) on 31 October this year. <br />'' <br />'' Speaking in Washington, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged the EU to negotiate a new pact on Britain's departure to avoid a potentially calamitous "no-deal" Brexit.  <br />'' <br />''Raab said after meeting the United States' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the two sides agreed on the need for quick negotiations on a two-way deal after Brexit strands Britain outside the US-EU trade pact.</span>