British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet later on Friday with U.S. President Donald Trump, seeking to enhance the UK's trade relations with Washington as it prepares to start its divorce talks with the EU.

"Of course we want to strengthen our trade ties with the very many trade partners we have around the world. But we are very mindful of our obligations under the treaty and will follow them precisely," Philip Hammond told reporters arriving to a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels.

He said that Britain "remains a fully engaged member of the European Union."

"We will continue to abide by the rules, regulations and the laws of the European Union for so long as we are members," Hammond added.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Hugh Lawson)