At long last, a “full and comprehensive” U.S.-U.K. trade agreement has been secured—and President Donald Trump is calling it just that. “A breakthrough trade deal,” Trump declared from behind the Resolute Desk on Thursday morning, as he dialed in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from the White House.
“This is now turning out to be really a great deal for both countries,” Trump affirmed. The U.K., he said, is “one of the U.S.’ closest and most cherished allies, and we’re so happy that that’s the way it worked out.”
For Number 10, it marks nothing short of a historic breakthrough. Starmer has now delivered what Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak—despite all the backslapping and transatlantic photo ops—could not. In a move Trump says will “cement the special relationship,” this unlikely alliance between U.S. Republicans and the U.K.’s Labour Party has shifted from symbolism to substance.
The trade teams on both sides of the pond have been quietly plugging away for months. The U.K. has long angled for this deal—first during Trump’s initial term, when progress was interrupted by the pandemic, and later throughout the Biden presidency, though without result.
Unlike Trump, Biden was not particularly interested in offering the Conservative Party a handshake and an economic deal—first and foremost because he was frustrated by Brexit, and secondly because he consistently misinterpreted the post-Brexit situation regarding the Northern Ireland backstop.
Trump, on the other hand, was willing to make a deal—and no political ideology was going to stand in the way.
On Wednesday night, with Victory Day for World War II commemorations looming, President Trump hinted at what was to come. Speaking of a deal with a “highly respected” country, The Pavlovic Today reported that the announcement was likely to be about Britain.
And so it was. On Thursday morning, journalists were ushered into the Oval Office, slightly behind schedule, to find Trump seated, Starmer on speakerphone, and the scene set.
“Today is a victory day for World War II. We won the war together,” Trump noted, drawing a line from past unity to present trade ties.
Reading from prepared remarks, he called the deal “very conclusive,” adding, “we think just about everything’s been approved.” Among the highlights: expedited customs clearance, expanded access for American agricultural goods, and alignment on economic security.
“This is a maxed out deal,” Trump emphasized to reporters. “Not like you said, you said it really incorrectly. This is a maxed out deal that we’re going to make bigger.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, standing alongside Vice President Vance and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was ready to elaborate.
“We’ve opened up new market access: ethanol, beef, machinery, all the agricultural products,” he said. Tariffs, notably the 10% on U.K. exports like cars, remain in place, but the deal now allows 100,000 British vehicles to enter the U.S. market under that ceiling. Provisions on steel and aircraft are also included.
“We feel really good about the deal,” said Lutnick.
Starmer, patched in via speakerphone, was brief. The agreement, he said, “is going to boost trade between and across our countries.” He, too, acknowledged the symbolism of the moment: “It couldn’t be more apt.”
When pressed on why the U.K. came first and whether the deal’s scope was exaggerated, Trump dismissed the skepticism: “It opens up a tremendous market for us and it works out very well.”
And more deals are on the way, Trump teased. “We have numerous deals,” he said, hinting at advanced talks with other nations. On China, Trump struck a cautiously optimistic note, saying China “very much wants to make a deal. We’ll see how that works out.”
As for Europe, the gloves came off: “The European Union treated us very unfairly,” Trump charged. The U.K. deal, he insisted, happened because “one of the reasons it did is because we blew up the whole system.”
Trump ended with a curveball, reiterating his plan to impose tariffs on the film industry—“the moviemakers”—and, when asked if he’d ease tariffs on China if talks progress, he offered a cryptic, “We’ll see.”
“I think we’re going to have a very good relationship,” he added, leaving the door open—and the headlines rolling.
read also
Did Politics Cost Ann Widdecombe Her Life?
The former government minister Ann Widdecombe was sitting in the kitchen of her Devon cottage, eating lunch, when the man accused of murdering her entered through the front door. Within two minutes, prosecutors confirmed, she had been struck 21 times on the head with a hammer. Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared in court in London on…
Burnham Prepares to Scrap Digital ID and Shift North Sea Policy
Andy Burnham has one weekend left before Downing Street becomes his new address, and he is already tearing up Starmer’s playbook. His digital ID and North Sea policy will offer the first clues to the government he intends to build when he enters Downing Street on Monday. Across Westminster, the usual guessing game has already…
Andy Burnham Signals Break With Starmer After Taking Labour Leadership
Andy Burnham promised a new path for Britain in his first speech since being officially named leader of the Labour Party. The former Greater Manchester mayor, who takes over as prime minister on Monday, pledged that his government will have the courage to fix the big things politics has neglected. Flanked by senior party figures,…
