The British government is scrambling to secure a last-minute post-Brexit trade agreement with the United States in an effort to avoid—or at least soften—tariffs on European imports expected to be announced by President Donald Trump next week.
Since leaving the European Union in 2020, the U.K. has been pursuing a new trade deal with the U.S., though talks had largely stalled under the previous Conservative government. Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labour Party met with Trump at the White House in February and came away optimistic that a deal could be finalized.
“We’re engaged in discussions with the United States about mitigating the impact of tariffs,” Starmer said as the weekend approached.
Trump appeared to share that optimism, saying a “great” deal was on the table—one that could help the U.K. avoid the looming tariffs. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds recently traveled to Washington to continue negotiations, while Trump and Prime Minister Starmer spoke again by phone earlier this week to discuss the path forward. READ MORE
