"Very Good Chance" Of A UK-US Trade Deal Removing Tariffs, Says Trump
3 min read
Donald Trump has said there is a "very good chance" that the US and UK will agree a trade deal that removes tariffs between the two countries.
Speaking alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a press conference in Washington on Thursday, the US president said there was a "very good chance" of making a "very good deal" and that the details were being worked on "as we speak".
His remarks will boost hopes in London that the Trump administration will agree to exempt the UK from its policy of imposing taxes on goods imported from other countries.
Trump on Wednesday said he would impose tariffs of 25 per cent on EU imports.
"I think we could very well end up with a real trade deal where the tariffs wouldn't be necessary," Trump told journalists in a joint press conference with Starmer.
Starmer in his remarks announced that the two countries will work on a "new economic deal" with artificial technology at its core, following a meeting with Trump at the White House.
"We've decided today to go further, to begin work on a new economic deal with advanced technology at its core. Our two nations together shaped the great technological innovations of the last century, we have a chance now to do the same for the 21st century," Starmer said.
There were warm words aplenty between the two leaders during the press conference, with Trump calling Starmer a "very tough negotiator" with a "beautiful accent". Earlier in the day, Trump accepted an invitation from King Charles for a second state visit to the UK given to him by Starmer, which the Prime Minister described as "unprecedented" and "historic".
Trump also praised the UK government's decision this week to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 after what he called "years of chronic underfunding".
Trump was reluctant, however, to discuss the prospect of the US sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement "until we have a deal" — leaving questions over whether he will accept Starmer's request for US security guarantees in Ukraine.
However, Trump did appear to use warmer words about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky having recently called him a dictator and called for elections in the wartorn country.
Speaking at the press conference, Trump said he has "a lot of respect" for Zelensky went on to praise Ukrainian soldiers for fighting "very bravely" in the conflict with Russia.
Asked by the press earlier today if he still believes that Zelensky is a dictator, Trump replied: "Did I say that, I can't believe I would say that."
The US president is set to meet with Zelensky on Friday to discuss a proposed minerals deal that could play a key part in a peace deal with Russia.
Starmer was asked by the media if he and Trump had discussed the US president's plan to annex Canada. Starmer said he had had a productive meeting with Trump and accused the questioner of trying to find “a divide between us that does not exist”.
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