Donald Trump has opened the door to a possible US-UK trade deal without tariffs after a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
As part of a European charm offensive launched to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, following on from Emmanuel Macron’s own trip on Monday, Sir Keir met the US president at the White House yesterday.
It comes ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s own visit to Washington today.
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During the meeting and a subsequent news conference, the two world leaders exchanged warm words – Mr Trump described Sir Keir as a “special man” and a “great gentleman”, while the British PM praised the US leader for “changing the conversation” on Ukraine.
‘Tough negotiator’
The Republican president has slapped tariffs on a number of countries in the early weeks of his first term, including using them to pressure allies into action.
But he hinted the UK could avoid that fate.
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Mr Trump said he thought the UK and US could end up with a “real trade deal” without tariffs and called Sir Keir a “tough negotiator” who had tried to persuade him not to impose trade tariffs on the UK.
“He was working hard, I’ll tell you that,” the president added.
“He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there, but he tried.
“I think there’s a very good chance that in the case of these two great, friendly countries, I think we could very well end up with a real trade deal where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary. We’ll see.”
Trump’s ‘great warm spot’
The surprisingly positive meeting followed recent weeks in which it appeared the transatlantic relationship had come under strain, following Mr Trump’s intervention to try to bring about the end of the war in Ukraine.
Mr Trump spoke about the UK, saying: “I have investments there, I own Turnberry, I own Aberdeen, and I own a great place called Doonbeg in Ireland [Ireland isn’t in the UK].
“So, I have a great warm spot for your country.”
Ukraine, Chagos and a royal invite
The key reason for the visit was to try to bring about a sustainable peace in Ukraine.
Mr Starmer followed Mr Macron into the Oval Office in an effort to win over Mr Trump after his administration held unilateral talks with Russia last week, without Ukraine, in a move that set off sirens throughout Europe’s capitals.
However, Mr Trump offered no security guarantees during the meeting with Sir Keir and the two leaders struck different tones.
While Mr Trump said “if it [a peace deal] doesn’t happen quickly, it may not happen at all”, Sir Keir said “history must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader.”
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The actions of Sir Keir and Mr Macron reflected a continent jolted into action.
Sir Keir recently announced a historic hike to defence spending as well – something Mr Trump has previously called for.
Mr Zelenskyy is making the same trip to the US where he will sit down and thrash out a possible deal on critical minerals in Ukraine.
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The economic deal has proven a crucial precursor of any potential peace agreement.
Mr Trump has said it would see American workers in Ukraine – something that would act as an effective backstop to any peacekeeping forces there, he claimed.
On the Chagos Islands deal, over which some have criticised Mr Starmer, Mr Trump said the plan to give up sovereignty and lease back the US-UK base would “work out well”.
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Before talks between the two sides, Sir Keir produced, with a flourish, a letter from the King written to Mr Trump, inviting him for an “unprecedented” second state visit.
The letter, marked “private and confidential”, invited the royal-loving president to the UK, with talks ahead of the formal state visit to discuss logistics and a potential programme.
