A free trade deal with the US has long been touted by Brexiteers as a major benefit of leaving the EU.
As you’ve likely noticed, such a deal has never come to pass.
While there were extensive negotiations between London and Washington during Donald Trump’s first term, they ultimately came to nothing – and not just because Joe Biden wasn’t interested.
So what was the problem?
The main opposition to a trade deal with the US was a keenness from Trump’s White House for access to British agriculture markets.
Boris Johnson did such a thing for deals with Australia and New Zealand, which came into force in 2023, giving those countries easier access to the UK’s beef and lamb.
Farmers were not at all pleased, fearing this would undercut them.
When it comes to the US, the main issue is Washington’s demand that Britain weakens its agricultural and food standards.
We’re far more aligned with the EU on that front, with higher standards, meaning none of that chlorinated chicken you’ve likely heard about as the US can’t sell into our market.
Does that mean no deal?
Speaking to Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, Lord Kim Darroch – who was Britain’s ambassador to Washington during the first Trump term – said weakening agricultural standards was a dealbreaker back then.
And Environment Secretary Steve Reed has previously told farmers Labour won’t strike any more deals “like the ones we saw with Australia and New Zealand”.
With that in mind, Lord Darroch believes a “limited deal” on financial and digital services may be the best option – though it may not be enough to satisfy the transactional Mr Trump.
What’s the likely outcome?
Sky News has learned top members of the Trump administration want a trade deal with the UK within months.
And Sir Keir Starmer certainly seems keen to be in the president’s good books, despite also wanting to improve ties with the EU.
The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has also suggested she’d like a deal to bolster her chances of growing the economy.
Our deputy political editor Sam Coates says it may ultimately the political priorities of both sides that get a deal “over the line”.
“Donald Trump has been picking on a succession of world leaders – Canada, Mexico, China – putting them on a naughty step and then taking them off if they do what they want,” says Sam.
“But he does need an example of a well-behaved leader to contrast all those people he’s having fights with.
“Could Keir Starmer – who gets a notably different write-up from Trump than any other world leader he talks about – be a beneficiary?”