The trade agreement between the UK and the US has been officially finalized, according to US President Donald Trump, who made the announcement during his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer at the G7 summit.
While addressing reporters in Canada, President Trump stated: “We have signed it, and it is complete. It is a fair deal for everyone involved. It will create numerous jobs and boost income.”
Sir Keir mentioned that the document “executes” the agreement to reduce tariffs on automotive and aerospace industries, deeming it a “significant accord.”
“This is an excellent day for both our nations—a true indication of our strength,” the prime minister remarked.
Mr. Trump asserted that the UK is “well shielded” against potential future tariffs, adding, “You know why? Because I like them.”
However, he refrained from confirming whether duties on British steel exports to the US would be reduced to 0%, saying, “We’ll share that information with you shortly.”
Mr. Trump also commended Sir Keir as a “fantastic” prime minister, stating, “We’ve been discussing this deal for six years, and he has accomplished what others have not.”
He continued, “We are long-term partners, allies, and friends, and we have grown close in a short time.”
“He’s somewhat more liberal than I am, to put it mildly… but we make it work.”
As they left a mountain lodge in the Canadian Rockies where the summit took place, Mr. Trump held a physical copy of the trade agreement for reporters to see.
Several pages fell from the binding, prompting Sir Keir to quickly bend down to retrieve them, exclaiming: “A very important document.”
Sir Keir Starmer retrieves papers from the UK-US trade deal after Donald Trump accidentally dropped them at the G7 summit. Pic: Reuters
At one point, the US president mistakenly referred to a “trade agreement with the European Union” while alongside the British prime minister.
In April, Mr. Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on various countries, including a 10% “reciprocal” rate on all UK exports, as well as separately imposing 25% tariffs on cars and steel.
Read more:
G7 summit ‘focused on Trump’ – analysis
Fast-paced G7 agenda in response to Israel-Iran tensions
During a joint televised call in May, Sir Keir and Mr. Trump declared the UK and the US had reached an agreement on a trade deal, while noting that details were still being finalized.
Before the G7 summit, the prime minister expressed his intention to engage in “one-on-one” discussions with Mr. Trump, emphasizing that the agreement “greatly impacts crucial sectors safeguarded in our deal, and we must implement it.”