Big news on the international trade front—President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is working on a trade deal with the UK, and if successful, Britain could avoid looming tariffs.
During a joint press conference at the White House, Trump praised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his persistence in negotiations:
“I’ll tell you that he earned whatever the hell they pay him over there, but he tried,” Trump said, calling Starmer a “very tough negotiator.”
The U.S. president hinted that if an agreement is reached, tariffs on British goods might not be necessary.
“We could very well end up with a real trade deal where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary. We’ll see.”
A U.S.-UK trade deal would be a major win for Britain’s post-Brexit economic strategy, especially as European Union countries prepare for potential U.S. tariffs.
Trade talks between the two nations stalled during Joe Biden’s presidency, but Trump’s latest comments suggest a revival of negotiations is on the table.
Beyond trade, Starmer acknowledged that the UK and other European nations need to do more for their own defense and security—something Trump has pushed for years.
“We’re obviously working with other European countries on that, France and NATO in particular, but I’m hosting 18 countries on Sunday to further our discussions.”
Starmer also stressed that the UK would be fully involved in ensuring any Ukraine peace deal holds, should an agreement be reached.
One big question remains—will the U.S. commit to supporting a European-led peacekeeping force?
Starmer described his conversation with Trump as “productive” but didn’t confirm whether the U.S. president made a firm military commitment.
With ongoing negotiations on trade, defense, and global security, expect more updates in the coming weeks.
Would a U.S.-UK trade deal benefit both countries?
