17 June 2025 - Donald Trump signs executive order to implement US-UK trade deal
Trump formalizes tariff cuts for U.K. as trade talks continue
Steve Kopack (NBC News, 16/06/2025)
President Donald Trump signed an agreement Monday formally lowering some tariffs on imports from the United Kingdom as the countries continue working toward a formal trade deal. Trump lowered tariffs on the U.K. aerospace sector to zero, which will take effect by the end of the month according to the U.K. Department for Business and Trade. The document also lowers tariffs on U.K. auto imports to 10% on the first 100,000 vehicles, according to the White House. Previously vehicles imported from Great Britain faced a 27.5% duty. However, the agreement does not lower steel tariffs to zero as the two leaders agreed in May. "As the Prime Minister and President Trump have again confirmed, we will continue to go further and make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products," the U.K. government said in a statement. In the meantime, imports of U.K. steel products will continue to face a 25% duty.
Trump signs order confirming parts of UK-US tariff deal
Natalie Sherman and Chris Mason (BBC News, 16/06/2025)
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reduce tariffs on UK cars being shipped to the US, which will bring into force parts of a tariff deal agreed between the two countries last month. Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the move a "very important day" for both countries. It comes after weeks of talks to implement parts of the pact, which the UK government hopes will shield British businesses from the impact of Trump's tariffs. But the deal includes a 10% levy on most UK goods, including cars, and did not address the expected removal of charges on steel imports.
Trump finally signed a UK-US trade deal - but Starmer still faces steel tariffs race
Kate Devlin (Independent, 17/06/2025)
President Trump brandished his trade deal with the UK at the G7 meeting in Canada, announcing he had finally signed it after weeks of wrangling - then promptly dropped it on the ground. Keir Starmer was quick to respond to the US president’s clumsiness, bending down to pick up the precious agreement, set to protect auto industry jobs in Britain. The whole thing could be seen as a metaphor for how the Republican sees these kinds of deals - and continues to treat them. Because there is a sting in the tail to what the two men signed in Alberta. Whopping tariffs of 25 per cent remain on British steel - one of the industries that can least afford them. And the prime minister now faces a race against time to try to get rid of them, before they cripple an already beleaguered industry.
Trump says UK is protected from tariffs ‘because I like them’ as trade deal is signed off
Peter Walker (The Guardian, 17/06/2025)
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have signed off a UK-US trade deal at the G7 summit in Canada, with the US president saying Britain would have protection against future tariffs “because I like them”. The two leaders presented the deal, which covers aerospace and the auto sector, at the G7 venue in Kananaskis, Alberta. Asked about steel by reporters, Trump said: “We’re going to let you have that information in a little while.” Under details released by the Department for Business and Trade, the UK aerospace sector will face no tariffs at all from the US, while the auto industry will have 10% tariffs, down from 25%.
Portrait of Donald Trump. Wikipedia, Public domain.
