A trade deal between the US and UK could happen “very quickly” President Donald Trump has said at a joint press conference with Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking during the prime minister’s visit to the White House, Trump envisaged “a real trade deal” which could see the UK could avoiding the kind of tariffs the president has been threatening on its trading partners.
Referring to an economic, rather than a trade deal, Sir Keir said the UK and US would begin work on an agreement which would be centred on the potential of artificial intelligence.
“Instead of over-regulating these new technologies, we’re seizing the opportunities that they offer,” he said.
He said the UK and US had shaped the “great technological innovations of the last century” and now had the chance to do the same in the 21st Century.
“Artificial intelligence could cure cancer. That could be a moon shot for our age, and that’s how we’ll keep delivering for our people,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs – import taxes – on many of its allies, including 25% on goods made in the European Union.
He also ordered a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US – which could hit the UK.
Asked if Sir Keir had tried to dissuade the president from ordering tariffs against the UK, Trump said: “He tried.”
“He was working hard I tell you that. He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there.
“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.”
In a bid to convince the president against UK tariffs, Sir Keir said the US-UK trade relationship was “fair, balanced and reciprocal”.
Since leaving the European Union, successive British leaders have hoped to get a general free trade deal with the US.
In his first term as president, Trump said talks about a “very substantial” trade deal with the UK were under way.
However, negotiations stalled with disagreements over US agricultural exports and UK taxes on tech companies causing problems.
