Trump Announces Preliminary UK-US Trade Deal, Calls It A 'Historic First Step'

The United Kingdom and the United States have reached a preliminary trade agreement, with US President Donald Trump calling it a 바카라�great honour바카라� and a landmark step in strengthening bilateral ties. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, 바카라�This agreement with the UK is full and comprehensive, and it will solidify our relationship for many years.바카라� He highlighted that the UK was the first country to sign such a deal under his leadership, with negotiations ongoing with other countries such as India, South Korea, and Japan.

Sky News has confirmed that both nations have agreed to a "heads of terms" an outline of the deal that, while not legally binding, marks a significant step toward a full trade agreement. Although no official treaty has been signed yet, sources suggest that the UK has agreed to certain concessions on agricultural imports from the US in exchange for relief on tariffs impacting the UK바카라�s automobile and steel sectors.

Despite these developments, British authorities maintain that there will be no compromise on food quality and safety. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized that the government remains committed to securing the 바카라�best possible바카라� deal. A British official also noted that the two sides had made substantial progress on adjusting steel and car export quotas.

Following initial reports in the New York Times, the British pound rose 0.4% against the dollar. A formal announcement is expected from the White House shortly, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to national interest, saying talks were progressing and further updates would follow.

The deal comes amid a wave of new US trade policies introduced by Trump, including a 10% tariff on most nations and steeper "reciprocal" rates on select partners. Though Britain avoided the highest tier of tariffs due to its import-export balance with the US, it was still impacted by duties on steel, aluminum, and cars.

Meanwhile, US and Chinese officials are set to meet in Switzerland to address a spiraling trade war, with tariff rates on both sides surpassing 100%. China has insisted on tariff reductions as a precondition for further negotiations.

Analysts say that securing a draft agreement with the US before finalizing terms with the EU could be a strategic advantage for the UK, potentially preventing Trump from deprioritizing the UK in future negotiations.