UK-US trade deal live: Trump slashes tariffs on steel and cars in historic agreement

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance, said: “I think the American people are going to like the taste of UK beef.

“As always, the devil really is going to be in the detail. It’s clear that for this deal to work in the UK interest, we need the government to pursue pro-farming policies domestically. The family farm tax remains a huge barrier to a long-term, buoyant network of domestic farms.

“I don’t believe there’s much appetite for US beef here, but it reinforces the importance of clear country of origin labelling. People need to know what they’re eating. British beef is sustainable, delicious and reared to the highest animal welfare standards.”

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says that food standards were not lowered to secure a trade deal with the US.

The deal includes increased access for U.S. beef, ethanol and other agricultural products to the British market.

There is strong public opposition in Britain to allowing in chlorine-rinsed American chicken or hormone-treated beef.

Starmer said, “We said we had red lines on standards, particularly in agriculture. We’ve kept to those standards. The SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) red line is a red line that is written into the agreement.”

President Trump said the agreement with the UK is a “great deal for both countries”, while Sir Keir said “this is a really fantastic, historic day” as he spoke to Trump about the deal on the phone.

Here, Archie Mitchell and Millie Cooke of The Independent look at what exactly has been announced.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who lavished praise on President Donald Trump during the Oval Office announcement of the trade deal with the UK, adds to that by saying the president “promised to restore fair and balance in trade and we are delivering.”

He promises “much more to come.”

Responding to confirmation that the UK government has agreed a deal on tariffs with the US, Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns for closer EU-UK ties, said:

“Chaotic and lacking detail, today’s announcement neatly demonstrates why trade with Trump’s erratic and unpredictable administration should be treated with extreme caution.

“Independent economic analysis shows that a common sense deal with our closest market can drive real growth rather than just limiting damage and our polling shows voters in every constituency in Britain, from Clacton to Newport, want the government to prioritise trade with our more reliable partners in Europe over Trump’s USA.”

Ariana Baio in New York and Eric Garcia in Washington, D.C. report on this morning’s announcement.

The UK beer industry has poured cold water on the government’s claim that ethanol — which has seen its tariffs slashed — is “used to produce beer.”

Ethanol is a by-product of the beer-making process and is only an ingredient for spirits, despite the government’s press release outlining the details of the deal saying otherwise.

A spokesperson for the British Beer and Pub Association said they “cannot see how [the deal] is a win for brewers or pubs”.

They said: “We are urgently seeking clarity about the details of the deal as, given ethanol is not used to make beer, we cannot see how this is a win for brewers or pubs.

“We continue to urge Government to focus on securing a trade deal that boosts the sector and doesn’t penalise British beer, which brings so much to our economy and job market.”

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he had discussions last night with Donald Trump about the trade deal, and he and the president respect and trust each other.

Asked about any assurances he could give to businesses that the deal would not be ripped up by the US, Sir Keir said: “We’ve been negotiating this text for a long time. I had discussions with Donald Trump along the way, including discussions last night. We’re clearly in agreement.”

He said there was a written text that would be available and the agreement was absolutely clear.

Sir Keir added: “We’ve worked well together, we respect each other, the President and I, and we trust each other, and have trusted each other through this process.”