U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal Announcement Expected
May 8, 2025The U.S. has reached a new trade agreement with the U.K., according to a post from President Trump on his Truth Social platform. The deal, which the president calls “full and comprehensive,” will prevent the U.K. from facing the U.S. administration’s planned “reciprocal” tariffs covering a wide range of goods, with hopes that the current “standard” 10% tariff on U.S. imports of drinks categories like Scotch whisky and gin will also be removed.
Further details will be announced at a White House press conference set for 10am eastern. In addition to the “standard” 10% tariffs, steel, aluminum, and vehicles from the U.K. are currently under a further 25% levy.
Meanwhile, the neighboring E.U. has announced plans to launch a dispute with the World Trade Organization over the U.S.’s “reciprocal” tariffs, which are currently paused for the next two months but stand to levy a 20% import tax on E.U. goods barring a trade deal. Additionally, the E.U. is exploring countermeasures on the U.S.’s tariffs covering over $100 billion in goods from sectors like agriculture, metals, and meats. Despite the E.U.’s moves to formally challenge the tariffs, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said that negotiations were ongoing and that reaching a deal would be best.—Shane English
Tagged : Tariffs