Donald Trump said he was “thrilled” to announce a trade deal with the UK on a telephone call with Keir Starmer that was broadcast live.
The prime minister hailed it as a “fantastic, historic day” for the two countries, adding it was “apt” it was signed on VE Day.
The pair agreed the details need to be ironed out but Trump said the UK will be “fast-tracking American goods through their customs process” so that US exports will go through a “very, very quick” form of approval.
“There won’t be any red tape, things are going to move very quickly both ways,” he said.
He said that the “final details” are still being “written up”.
Starmer ended the call by saying: “We’ve always had a fair, balanced arrangement between our countries. This builds on that.
“Hugely important for sectors like car manufacturing and for steel and aluminium and so many others. And yes, we can finish trying out some of the details, but there’s a fantastic platform here, including, of course, on the tech side.”
It comes after President Trump earlier teased on Truth Social that he had made a “full and comprehensive” agreement with the UK.
The deal with the UK marks the first agreement since Trump announced the “liberation day” sweeping tariffs on countries around the world on April 2, as he accused them of “looting, pillaging, raping and plundering” the US.
It is expected to be the first of many deals he will strike with other nations.
Number 10 had been expecting the announcement of a deal, but the timing of Trump’s post is understood to have come as a surprise, given the focus on VE Day commemorations.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will hold a separate press conference on Thursday afternoon in the West Midlands, and ministers are expected to update MPs on talks with a statement in the Commons.
He said earlier: “Talks with the US have been ongoing and you’ll hear more from me about that later today.
“But make no mistake, I will always act in our national interest, for workers, businesses and families, to deliver security and renewal for our country.”
More to follow…
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