U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May reassured business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum that Britain would remain open for business after it quits the European Union.
Her speech to business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday comes after European Union (EU) officials had described a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain as "difficult".
"Britain is and will always be open for business," Theresa May told the audience.
Earlier in the week, May outlined the country's plans to make a clean break from the EU. In a wide-ranging speech, May confirmed the U.K. was destined to leave the single market and that a potential Brexit deal with the EU would require a parliamentary vote. She also warned that the U.K. would walk away from talks should the EU fail to meet the right Brexit agreement.
In a newspaper interview over the weekend, May's finance minister, Philip Hammond, said that Britain was prepared to play a different tax and trade game after it quits the EU.
Nevertheless, in her Davos speech, the U.K. leader also stressed businesses must pay their fair share in taxes.
"For business, it means playing by the same rules as everyone else when it comes to tax and behavior," May said.
"It is essential for business to demonstrate leadership, to show that in this globalized world, everyone is playing by the same rules and that the benefits of economic success are there for all our citizens," she added.
At the World Economic Forum, May will be joined by other representatives from the U.K., including Hammond and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
