UK seeks progress on US trade deal negotiations

UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is heading to Washington on Tuesday for trade discussions with US officials. He aims to advance talks on a trade agreement between the UK and the US, which is currently the UK's largest trading partner. Reynolds will meet with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. This will be their first in-person meeting since President Trump returned to office in January. Reynolds hopes to convince the US to remove steel import tariffs on Britain. The UK has been working towards a trade deal since leaving the European Union, but negotiations have stalled. Currently, talks are believed to focus on a smaller agreement for specific sectors, such as technology and artificial intelligence. This visit comes shortly after Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on global steel and aluminum imports. Unlike the European Union, the UK has not retaliated with tariffs. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that they are negotiating a deal that could include tariffs if successful. Reynolds emphasized the importance of protecting the UK’s steel industry. He remarked that the UK and US have benefited from a strong economic relationship for decades and aims to further strengthen this partnership. In 2023, the UK exported around 10 percent of its steel to the US, valued at nearly £400 million.