A trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom is set to be announced later today.<\/p>\n
In a post shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Thursday morning, President Donald Trump said<\/a> there is a \u201cfull and comprehensive\u201d agreement between the two nations, adding: \u201cBecause of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump said more agreements, presumably with other countries, are in \u201cserious stages of negotiation\u201d and will follow.<\/p>\n Whilst the agreement is still yet to be officially laid out, a press conference on the matter is scheduled at the Oval Office for 10 a.m. ET. It’s unknown if any trade documents will be signed today.<\/p>\n The trade agreement comes after Trump placed a 10% tariff on the U.K. earlier this year. Many countries were then subjected to higher charges when Trump announced his so-called \u201creciprocal tariffs<\/a>\u201d in April. The U.K. was not subjected to these higher tariffs as it buys more from the U.S. than it sells to it. The reciprocal tariffs were then put on pause for 90 days. However, the U.K. is still subjected to the 25% tariff on all steel, aluminium, cars, and car parts imported to the U.S. <\/p>\n Many businesses and leaders in the U.K.\u2014particularly within the automotive industry\u2014may well be hoping that the trade agreement results in lesser tariffs for the U.K.<\/p>\n Sky News has reported that a \u201cheads of terms agreement\u201d<\/a> with preliminary details has been agreed, according to British government sources, with a full deal yet to be finalized.<\/p>\n U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, of the Labour Party, addressed the matter while speaking at a defense conference in London on Thursday morning. “Talks with the U.S. have been ongoing and you’ll hear more from me about that later today,\u201d he assured<\/a>. \u201cBut make no mistake, I will always act in our national interest, for workers, businesses and families, to deliver security and renewal for our country.”<\/p>\n British lawmakers have been reacting to the news.<\/a> Conservative Party member Mark Pritchard and Liberal Democrat Tim Farron have both raised questions about potential impacts on agricultural standards, and have queried if U.K. farmers will be protected.<\/p>\n In response, Farming Secretary Steve Reed said:<\/a> \u201cWe have red lines for not allowing British farmers to be undercut on environmental or welfare standards.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump-Starmer: A brief history of their relationship<\/strong><\/p>\n Since the start of Trump\u2019s second term as President, the two leaders appear to have established a positive relationship, despite uncertainty over tariffs and conflicting approaches to the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n Trump and Starmer met in the Oval Office of the White House in February<\/a>, soon after Trump returned for his second term, and the meeting was widely seen as a good start to their relationship as co-world leaders.<\/p>\n The U.K. Prime Minister delivered a letter from King Charles III addressed to the President, inviting Trump for a state visit, which was gratefully accepted. Trump also called Starmer \u201ca very tough negotiator,\u201d <\/a>as the two discussed tariffs. <\/p>\n \u201cIn a moment of real danger around the world, this relationship matters more than ever,\u201d Starmer said of U.K.-U.S. relations, adding that when the two nations work together, \u201cwe win and we get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Starmer became Prime Minister in 2024, he had a more difficult relationship with Trump. In January 2016, Starmer openly criticized the President, saying<\/a>: \u201cWe are united in condemning the comments of Donald Trump on issues such as Mexican immigrants, Muslims and women,\u201d adding that he felt that Trump\u2019s comments were \u201crepugnant.\u201d<\/p>\n In June 2018, Starmer also said: \u201cHumanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump.\u201d<\/a> in response to a video showing migrant detention centers in the U.S. where parents and children appeared to have been separated.<\/p>\n In October 2024, Trump\u2019s campaign team filed an official complaint<\/a> accusing Starmer\u2019s Labour Party of \u201cblatant foreign interference,\u201d amid the 2024 U.S. presidential election.<\/p>\n