Trump formalizes tariff cuts for U.K. as trade talks continue
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an agreement formally lowering some tariffs on imports from the United Kingdom as the two countries continue working toward a formal trade deal.
Trump lowered tariffs on the U.K. aerospace sector to zero, which will take effect by the end of the month according to the U.K. Department for Business and Trade. The document also lowers tariffs on U.K. auto imports to 10% on the first 100,000 vehicles, according to the White House. Previously vehicles imported from Great Britain faced a 27.5% duty.
However, today's agreement does not lower steel tariffs to zero as the two leaders agreed in May. "As the Prime Minister and President Trump have again confirmed, we will continue to go further and make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products," the U.K. government said in a statement. In the meantime, imports of U.K. steel products will continue to face a 25% duty.
"This now implements on car tariffs and aerospace. It's a really important agreement and so this is very good day for both of our countries," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
"It's a fair deal for both and it's going to produce a lot of jobs, a lot of income. And we have many, many others coming," Trump said alongside Starmer.
The original agreement with the U.K. announced in May is so far the only trade deal Trump has reached since he slapped every U.S. trading partner with a dizzying array of tariffs on April 2. Trump paused the implementation of those tariffs for 90 days after the announcement rocked global markets.
Monday's agreement also implements "reciprocal access to 13,000 metric tonnes beef for both US and British farmers," the U.K. said.
While the United Kingdom just makes it into the top 10 of America's trading partners, the deal is critical for U.K. Prime Minister Starmer, who unveiled the deal in an impromptu visit to a Jaguar Land Rover factory in England in May.
Starmer and his Labour government are pushing to grow the U.K. economy, which contracted in April amid a record fall in exports to the United States.
Starmer's government also had to partially nationalize the last major steel plant in the U.K. as the industry increasingly moves abroad, primarily to Asia.
For Trump's part, his government has repeatedly promised to ink '90 deals in 90 days.'
'I'm telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my a**,' Trump said in April before his reciprocal tariffs were due to go into effect. 'They are dying to make a deal. 'Please, please, sir, make a deal. I'll do anything. I'll do anything, sir!''
With 68 days elapsed since Trump's so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs were paused, the U.K. deal remains the only deal on paper but has not been formally implemented in full.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have held at least six days of meetings on two occasions with China but have not reached any type of deal.
Likewise with the European Union, America's largest trading partner, Greer has held talks with its trade chief a handful of times but there still is no deal in sight for the 27-nation bloc.
Japan's economic minister has also met with the three U.S. officials multiple times, including for 70 minutes on Sunday. However, Japan is still working to reach a formal deal with the U.S.
Recently as Trump appeared to grow irritated with repeated questions about the lack of trade deals, he began saying the U.S. would start 'sending letters out' telling countries 'what the deal is' rather than negotiating one.
'We have, at the same time, 150 countries that want to make a deal. But you're not able to see that many countries,' Trump said in early May. 'So at a certain point, over the next two to three weeks, I think Scott and Howard will be sending letters out.'
Trump said again in mid-June that the U.S. would be sending letters to other countries informing them about their tariff rates 'in about a week and a half, two weeks.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Liverpool newcomer Florian Wirtz motivated to build on Leverkusen achievements
The Premier League champions have paid Bayer Leverkusen £100million for the 22-year-old Germany international but that fee could potentially become a British record as there are £16m of add-ons included. If achieved that would surpass the existing mark of £115m which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023 and it is understood Liverpool will be happy to pay these 'aspirational bonuses' as it will mean they have enjoyed considerable success at elite level. And that is what Wirtz, one of Europe's hottest properties, is determined to contribute to. 'I'm not coming (to) have fun here, I want also to achieve something and give the fans what they deserve,' he told the club's website. 'Of course I want to keep going at this performance. So yeah, that sure gives motivation to achieve more. 'I would like to win everything every year. First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work. In the end, we want to be successful. 'Last season they won the Premier League, so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League. I'm really ambitious.' 🤩 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 20, 2025 Wirtz has signed a five-year deal and at 22 has his best years ahead of him. He wants to continue the progress which saw him score 57 goals and contribute 64 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen. 'This was also a big point for me: that I will improve my own personal level and physical levels because I think everyone knows that in Liverpool the players are machines – really strong and really physical,' he added. 'But I see this also as an opportunity for me to get better in this point. So yeah, I just thought this was the right place for me.' Liverpool saw off competition from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to secure Wirtz. Leverkusen had valued him at £126m but a compromise was reached last week, although the up-front fee easily outstrips the £85m deal Liverpool agreed with Benfica in 2022 for Darwin Nunez, who is expected to leave this summer. 'I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League,' he added. Wirtz is Liverpool's second signing of the summer, following close friend and Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, and with the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvilli joining next month after a deal was agreed a year ago spending has already reached £175m. That is set to be pushed beyond the £200m mark with a £40m fee agreed for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. It is their biggest summer window since 2018 when Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alisson Becker were recruited for around £170m, with Virgil van Dijk having signed for £75m the previous January. Owners Fenway Sports Group have, despite their 'Moneyball' reputation, not been afraid to splash out big fees for transformative players like Van Dijk and Alisson – and Wirtz falls into that category. The club have already recouped around £26m with the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher with further funds expected to be generated from the likes of Nunez, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and potentially Andy Robertson, who is a target for Atletico Madrid.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Lammy urges Iran and US to keep talking as Middle East conflict continues
The Foreign Secretary met his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday alongside foreign ministers from France and Germany and the EU's foreign policy chief. Following the meeting, Mr Lammy said the Europeans were 'keen to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran, and we urge Iran to continue their talks with the United States'. He added: 'We were clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.' Friday's meeting followed Donald Trump's statement that he would delay a decision on whether the US would join Israeli strikes against Iran for two weeks, raising the prospect of a negotiated solution to the crisis. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said the group had left the room 'with the impression that the Iranian side is fundamentally ready to continue talking about all important issues'. Speaking to broadcasters after the meeting, Mr Lammy described the situation as 'perilous' and urged Iran to 'take that off ramp' and 'be serious about the diplomacy that is required at this moment'. He added that the US and Europe were pushing for Iran to agree to zero enrichment of uranium as a 'starting point' for negotiations. But Mr Araghchi said Iran would not negotiate with the US as long as Israel continued to carry out airstrikes against the country. Tel Aviv's campaign continued on Friday, with Israel saying its aircraft had hit military targets including missile-manufacturing facilities as it continues to attack locations connected with Iran's nuclear programme. Iran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. Meanwhile, the UK Government has announced it will use charter flights to evacuate Britons stranded in Israel once the country's airspace reopens. Number 10 said on Friday morning the situation remains 'fast-moving' and it will continue to be monitored closely. A spokesman added: 'We are advising British nationals to continue to register their presence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to be contactable with further guidance on these flights.' Mr Lammy said work is under way to provide the flights 'based on levels of demand' from UK citizens who want to leave the region. 'The UK will provide charter flights for British nationals from Tel Aviv when airspace reopens,' he said. 'The safety of British nationals remains our top priority.' According to the Israeli government, some 22,000 tourists are seeking to board evacuation flights. It is unclear how many of these may be UK citizens. Government advice for British nationals in the country remains to follow local guidance, as well as to let officials know about their presence within Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Land routes out of Israel remain open and British staff are on hand to support UK nationals who have crossed the border, he added. The move follows criticism of the Foreign Office's initial response, which saw family members of embassy staff evacuated while UK citizens were not advised to leave and told to follow local guidance. The Government said the move to temporarily withdraw family members had been a 'precautionary measure'. On Friday, the Foreign Office announced that UK staff had also been evacuated from Iran, with the embassy continuing to operate remotely.
Auto Car
an hour ago
- Auto Car
MWIC Bonus Episode 13: Autocar Meets car designer Julian Thomson, GM Advanced Design Europe
Close Julian Thomson is one of the world's best car designers and if you don't know the name, you'll know his cars. As Lotus's chief designer he designed the Elise and at Jaguar Land Rover created the LRX concept, which went on to become the Range Rover Evoque. But most of Thomson's career has been spent in advanced design and that's where he finds himself now, at General Motors' new advanced design centre Europe. Why does GM need a European design centre and what will it do? Join Steve Cropley and Matt Prior as they put these questions and many more to one of the world's most eminent car designers.
