Trump to announce trade deal with UK on Thursday
4 Min Read
US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new trade deal with the UK, marking a major step in US-UK economic relations post-Brexit.
-
US President Donald Trump speaks after David Perdue was sworn in as US Ambassador to China during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, on May 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a trade deal with the United Kingdom on Thursday, according to multiple US media outlets, including The New York Times and Politico.
The reports follow Trump’s statement on social media Wednesday, where he teased a "major trade deal with a big, and highly respected country."
The announcement is scheduled for 10:00 am (1400 GMT) at the White House’s Oval Office. Trump emphasized that the deal would be the "first of many," as his administration seeks to redefine global economic relationships under his second term.
Read next: UK film union warns of severe fallout from US foreign film tariff plan
While reports suggest an agreement has been reached, The New York Times noted it remains uncertain whether the deal has been finalized or whether only a framework will be unveiled, with negotiations to continue thereafter.
The prospective US-UK trade deal for 2025 comes amid broader efforts by Washington to renegotiate existing trade relationships. Last month, Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on multiple US trading partners, pausing most of them temporarily to enable new negotiations.
The deal announcement coincides with growing economic unease in the UK, while the Bank of England is widely expected to cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point on Thursday, a move prompted in part by concerns over the global impact of Trump’s trade policies.
Britain secures trade pact with India ahead of US deal
Earlier this week, the United Kingdom finalized a free trade agreement with India, its most significant such deal since Brexit. Talks with New Delhi were revived in February, shortly after Trump’s tariff measures sparked concerns in British economic circles.
Britain’s urgency to secure global trade partners has accelerated since leaving the European Union at the beginning of the decade, and the drive became more pronounced following Trump’s election and renewed emphasis on bilateral trade deals.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Washington in February to discuss tariffs and trade relations. Following the talks, he expressed optimism that a long-anticipated trade agreement could soon materialize.
Read next: UK, EU edge toward defense pact ahead of May summit
For his part, Trump praised Starmer as a "tough negotiator" and spoke of the potential for a "great" deal between the two nations. During the visit, Starmer invited Trump to return to Britain for a second state visit in September to meet King Charles III, a diplomatic gesture aimed at reinforcing transatlantic ties.
If confirmed, Trump would become the first political leader to be hosted for a second state visit to the UK, following his 2019 trip during his first presidential term.
The anticipated US-UK trade deal marks a significant step in post-Brexit economic strategy and signals renewed momentum in Washington-London relations, even as global markets remain volatile under shifting tariff policies.
It is worth mentioning that Britain and the European Union planned to sign a formal declaration affirming their shared commitment to “free and open trade,” in what is widely interpreted as a direct challenge to Trump’s increasingly protectionist trade stance and proposed tariff hikes.
A leaked draft of the agreement, obtained by POLITICO, outlined plans for a “new strategic partnership” between London and Brussels that centered on “maintaining global economic stability and our mutual commitment to free and open trade.” The document also emphasized a cooperative economic vision that contrasts with the unilateral tariff policies currently being advanced by the Trump administration.
