Great Britain starts with the press.com

The announcement from Wednesday evening was still a bit cryptic. On Thursday, however, the cat was out of the bag: US President Donald Trump confirmed the conclusion of a trade agreement with Great Britain. The contract is « complete and comprehensive », he wrote in his online service Truth Social: It will be an « exciting day » for the two nations. In the morning Washingtoner, he gave a phone call with the British Prime Minister Keir Strander known the agreement.

Trump called the agreement a breakthrough. There will be no bureaucracy, US goods would be preferred by British customs. Strander praised the importance of the agreement for tech companies. In subsequent, separate appearances in front of the press, it was initially announced that the United States’ ten percent tariffs should remain against Great Britain. According to British information, however, the auto levies are to be reduced from 27.5 to ten percent and the tariffs are completely deleted on steel and aluminum. In turn, Great Britain lowers its tariffs for US goods to 1.8 out of 5.1 percent and make it easier to access American products.

US meat exports to Great Britain should increase without the food safety on the island being compromised, a long-term point of view between the two countries. Minister of trade Howard Lutnick meanwhile said in Washington that Great Britain would buy Boeing aircraft worth $ 10 billion. According to Trump, the concrete details of the entire deal should only be worked out in the coming weeks. Among other things, it was said that the trade agreement would lead to the creation of an aluminum and steel trading zone and a safe pharmaceutical supply chain.

Trump and Strander under pressure

US media had already reported in advance that the agreement on Thursday would only be a framework agreement.

The deal is the first of a whole series of open agreements with other countries since Trump imposed flat -rate tariffs of ten percent against most countries in early April, even against the closest allies and Great Britain. He wants to achieve a total of 17 agreements with the most important trading partners in the United States. On Thursday, he explicitly said that he intended a deal with Europe.

Trump is under pressure to find a way out of his plan, to raise the US tariffs to the highest level in a century. According to surveys, many Americans are dissatisfied with their economic policy.

But also Stranders is under pressure to reach Washington after the car and steel industry warned of the “devastating” effects of the tariffs. For the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Strandmer, the deal with the United States is already the second trade agreement within a week after being concluded with India on Tuesday.

Presumed content of the deal

In contrast to Trump’s explanation that the contract was « complete and comprehensive », officials of the United Kingdom were according to « Financial Times« Assumed that » the agreement only has a limited extent and will concentrate on the car and steel industry, which are most affected by Trump’s trade war and have to raise tariffs of 25 percent on their US exports.  » British officials also tried with the Trump team in conversation to avert future US tariffs on products such as pharmaceuticals and aerospace. In addition, they had tried to convince Trump to reduce his global « basic customs » of ten percent to the United Kingdom, but admitted that this would not happen, the « Financial Times » continued. However, they believe that the agreement from Thursday will open the door for further conversations.

According to « Financial Times », it is expected that « Great Britain reduces the tariffs to US imports as part of the agreement, whereby a reduction in ten percent customs on auto imports and the taxes on meat and shellfish products are possible. The U.S. tech corporation is also in conversation. »

The bilateral trade statistics

In the past few weeks, Trump and Strand had spoken of “productive negotiations” between their historically closely connected countries. The United States and Great Britain have a diplomatic and economic « special relationship ».

The trade between the two economies is currently relatively balanced – according to statistics, Great Britain exported in 2024 were worth £ 59.3 billion (69.7 billion euros) to the USA and imported from there were worth 57.1 billion euros. That should help with the conclusion of an agreement. With its high tariffs, Trump claims to reduce the US trade deficit with other countries and bring jobs back into the country.

Talks with many countries

US officials now have trade talks with Japan, Vietnam, India and the EU led. US finance minister Scott Bessent Will travel to Switzerland for talks with Chinese officials on Thursday. The tensions between Washington and Beijing have triggered fears about a harmful decline in trade between the two largest economies in the world.

Comprehensive trade agreements usually require years of negotiations. Talks with several countries usually focus at best on basic agreements about obligations and intentions. The many details that are traditionally contained in comprehensive trade agreements have to be negotiated later. (APA/AFP/Bloomberg/Ft/est)