Trump to Announce UK Trade Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce a trade agreement with the United Kingdom on Thursday, marking the first major trade deal since his administration paused reciprocal tariffs to pursue negotiations with key partners.

The announcement will follow a Wednesday evening post on Truth Social in which Trump teased a "big news conference… concerning a major trade deal" with a "highly respected country." The White House has scheduled the event for 10 a.m. EDT in the Oval Office.

Details of the Agreement Remain Unclear

While specifics of the deal have not yet been disclosed, a U.K. government spokesperson confirmed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will provide an update on bilateral trade talks later Thursday.

According to a Reuters report, British officials are considering concessions, including lowering tariffs on U.S. automobiles and scaling back a digital sales tax affecting American tech firms.

Since taking office earlier this year, the Trump administration has aggressively expanded U.S. tariff policies. In April, the president announced sweeping levies on trading partners, though most were later paused or reversed to allow for negotiations. Notably, a 145% tariff on Chinese imports remains in place.

Broader Trade Negotiations Underway

The U.S.-UK deal comes as Washington seeks to de-escalate trade tensions that have rattled global markets. Officials from the U.S. and China are set to meet in Switzerland on Saturday to discuss resolving the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.

For the UK, securing a trade pact with the U.S. is a strategic priority following its departure from the European Union. While Brexit initially exposed Britain to U.S. tariffs, the 10% levy imposed by Trump was half the rate applied to the EU.

"The United States is an indispensable ally for both our economic and national security," a Downing Street spokesperson said. "Talks on a deal between our countries have been continuing at pace, and the Prime Minister will provide an update later today."

The UK recently finalized a free-trade agreement with India—its largest post-Brexit trade deal—and has made progress in talks with Washington on reducing steel and auto tariffs. Discussions are also ongoing regarding Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on foreign-produced films.

Trump Touts Deal as a Historic Achievement

In a follow-up post on May 8, Trump hailed the agreement as "full and comprehensive," emphasizing the longstanding alliance between the two nations. "Because of our long-time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement," he wrote.

The president has repeatedly claimed that multiple countries are eager to finalize trade deals with the U.S. During a May 6 meeting with Canada’s prime minister, Trump expressed frustration with the pressure to expedite agreements, stating, "We don’t have to sign deals. They have to sign deals with us."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at imminent announcements during a congressional hearing, suggesting deals with major trading partners could be unveiled as early as this week. Negotiations are reportedly underway with 18 nations, excluding China, though high-level talks with Beijing are now scheduled.

As markets watch closely, the U.S.-UK deal could signal a shift toward easing the trade conflicts that have dominated Trump’s economic agenda.