Mrs May visited Warsaw yesterday to sign a new military agreement and work towards a closer British-Polish relationship – especially when it comes to trade.
After meeting Mrs May, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for the “best possible” trade terms between the two states after Brexit.
He said: “Although this is a prerogative of the European Commission, we are of an opinion that trade and economic cooperation should be maintained at the best possible platform for us and for the United Kingdom.
“All the protectionist movements are very dangerous and that is why we really regret that we are losing the UK as our ally in a number of discussions at the EU level.”
He said talks should begin “as soon as possible” on a huge range of sectors.
Mr Morawiecki continued: “We believe that the freedom of providing services, particularly transport, logistics, construction services but also IT and the services where the UK is very strong such as financial services, insurance and consulting, training and education.
“This cooperation on freedom of movement of people should be strengthened in the coming years.
“On economic cooperation it is hard to find closer partners than we are. The UK is a very important trade partner for Poland.”
And Mrs May backed her Polish allies, who are currently at loggerheads with the EU over judicial changes.
After being asked by a Polish journalist for her view on the issue, which could end with sanctions and Warsaw losing its EU voting rights, she refused to criticise.
She replied: “These constitutional issues are normally and should be primarily a matter for the individual country concerned.”
Foreign secretary Boris Johnson backed Poland’s comments on trade as “tremendous” and said Mr Morawiecki and his colleagues were “excellent people”.
He said: “They have been rock solid alongside us fighting against bureaucracy in Brussels.”
Poland and the UK have been firm allies for years, helped by the bond created when Polish pilots fought for the RAF in the Battle of Britain.
Mr Morawiecki said he “regrets” losing the UK as allies in the EU.