US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a potential “great” post-Brexit trade deal with the UK during a press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House. Trump praised Starmer’s negotiating abilities and indicated that a swift agreement could help avoid tariffs. Despite previous challenges in reaching a deal after the 2016 Brexit referendum, Trump’s remarks suggest renewed enthusiasm for trade talks, which had stalled under President Biden. Starmer described their discussion as productive and emphasized the equality of trade between the US and the UK, while Trump suggested a deal could greatly benefit both nations.
Washington:
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism over a potential “great” post-Brexit trade agreement that could eliminate tariffs on Britain, praising Prime Minister Keir Starmer as a resolute negotiator.
“We’re going to have a fantastic trade agreement, one way or another,” Trump told reporters during a joint press conference with Starmer at the White House, indicating that a new deal could materialize “rather quickly.”
Pro-Brexit advocates had previously highlighted the possibility of a US-UK trade agreement as one of the advantages of exiting the European Union leading up to the 2016 referendum on EU membership.
However, they were unable to finalize a deal after the vote.
Billionaire real estate mogul Trump, who penned a book titled “The Art of the Deal,” praised the negotiating prowess of former human rights attorney Starmer during the press conference.
“You’re a very tough negotiator – I’m not sure I appreciate that, but that’s alright,” Trump quipped.
When asked if Starmer had convinced him to back away from the threat of tariffs, the US president laughed and remarked: “He tried. He was working hard, I’ll give him that.”
“He has earned whatever they pay him over there,” he added.
Since taking office, Trump has threatened to implement extensive tariffs on trade partners with whom the United States has a significant trade deficit, including the European Union and China.
Trump’s remarks regarding a deal indicate that his administration is eager to revive trade negotiations with Britain, which saw limited advancements during his predecessor Joe Biden’s administration.
Starmer mentioned that he had a “productive discussion” with Trump, stating that the US and Britain are currently collaborating on a new “economic deal.”
“We could very well secure a genuine trade deal where tariffs wouldn’t be required,” Trump told reporters, suggesting that the eventual agreement could be “really terrific for both countries.”
On Thursday, Starmer defended Britain’s trade relationship with the United States, describing it as “fair, balanced, and reciprocal.”
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