U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a limited trade deal between the two countries on Thursday, although major U.S. tariffs on U.K. imports remain in place.
Trump hailed the agreement as a “breakthrough,” acknowledging it as a vital step in strengthening U.S.-U.K. relations. He emphasized that the U.K. had agreed to reduce tariffs on U.S. goods, lowering the average tariff from 5.1% to 1.8%, while the U.S. would slightly ease tariffs on U.K. auto imports and eliminate tariffs on British steel. Despite these adjustments, the baseline 10% tariffs on British goods remain intact.
The agreement also opens more access for U.S. agricultural products in the U.K. and includes provisions for beef trade, though food safety standards will remain unchanged, protecting U.K. consumers from U.S. beef treated with growth hormones.
Starmer framed the deal as a step toward protecting U.K. workers, particularly in the car manufacturing and steel industries. He promised that the agreement would foster economic security and job creation, noting that it was just the beginning of further negotiations.
