AKIPRESS.COM - The US has said it intends to negotiate three separate trade agreements with Japan, the UK and the EU, BBC reports.

It could take several months before the negotiations begin, it said.

The move is part of US President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape trade policies to support his "America First" agenda.

It comes as the US has been fighting a trade war with China, the world's second largest economy.

"We will continue to expand U.S. trade and investment by negotiating trade agreements with Japan, the EU and the United Kingdom," US trade representative Robert Lighthizer said.

"We are committed to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses."

The US plans to start negotiations with Japan, the world's third largest economy, "as soon as practicable, but no earlier than 90 days from the date of this notice," Mr Lighthizer wrote in a letter to Congress.

Negotiations with the United Kingdom will start "as soon as it is ready" after it leaves the European Union in March 2019, he said.