US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has warned the UK not to expect any trade deals if the Good Friday Agreement is not respected.
Ministers are trying to strike “mini” trade deals with individual American states after US President Joe Biden effectively ruled out a swift trade agreement with the UK.
It was reported last week that the Department for International Trade is leading a charm offensive in state capitals to take advantage of America’s federal structure of government.
But when asked by the Mirror if the UK-US trade relationship would be strengthened by mini deals struck with individual US states, Ms Pelosi said: "Our relationship in regards to trade is dependent on the value of the Good Friday accords.
"We want to see the Good Friday accords honoured and the border to remain the way it is."
She insisted the Brexit Accords are not as important as the Good Friday Agreement.
Sources had told the Times they hoped a number of mini deals will be confirmed by the end of the year.
Ms Pelosi added: "I don't expect a bilateral trade agreement with the UK if there is a unravelling of the Good Friday accords in relationship to the border."
Her remarks come after she spent the afternoon in the Commons with Sir Lindsay Hoyle discussing security threats to democracy.
Ms Pelosi arrived flanked with top US security officials including the US chair of the intelligence committee and the chair of the armed services committee.
Sir Lindsay told the Mirror the death threats Labour leader Keir Starmer faced after Boris Johnson's Savile slur had "worried people across the world".
Their discussions took place against the backdrop of two MPs – Tory Sir David Amess and Labour’s Jo Cox – being killed within the last six years.
“What we want to see is democracy thrive and what we’ve got to do is make sure politicians, those threats made against them, that we put all the right security measures in place," Sir Lindsay said.
“I did have a meeting this morning, I have discussed it again, I want to make sure that we learn from the mistakes that happened.
“Mob rule, Capitol Hill, I want to learn what happened there to make sure it doesn’t happen here.
“Security is under discussion, this is about ensuring that democracy thrives and that people who do not share our views, through terrorism, through evil ways, we will always stand united together.”
It is understood the pair have developed a close friendship over the last six months, having first met at the hometown of Chorley, Lancashire, for the 20th G7 Speakers’ Meeting last September.
After the pair enjoyed a fancy lunch, Ms Pelosi took full credit for giving Sir Lindsay the idea to host the G7 from his constituency.
"I gave him an idea, I'll take credit for it, whether it's true or not, that he should have the G7 meeting in his constituency.
"And it turned out to be a big success. When we came here on this trip, what we were told by some people is, we want to see visitors outside of London."
The pair met again the following month ahead of Cop26 in Rome for the G20 Speakers Summit in October.
It is understood Sir Lindsay gave Ms Pelosi and open invitation to stop by the Commons whenever she was next in London.
Sir Lindsay remains convinced the UK and US have a special relationship, and he believes her presence confirmed this.
"Our special relationship has been endorsed today by the people Ms Pelosi brought with her.
"Serious players in American politics, standing shoulder to shoulder with us from a stand point of intelligence."
This state lunch was the first Sir Lindsay has been able to host since becoming Commons Speaker in 2019.
Around 50 delegates were invited for lunch in the Commons State Dining Room, including the chair of the US intelligence committee and the chair of the US armed services committee Adam Smith.
