UK-US trade deal signed at G7 summit as Trump says UK protected because ‘I like them’
What Happened
At the G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump formally approved a UK‑US trade deal targeting aerospace and automotive sectors. The agreement removes tariffs on UK aerospace exports and cuts tariffs on British cars from 25% to 10%, covering up to 100,000 vehicles annually. However, steel and aluminium remain in limbo: the UK continues to face a 25% tariff, albeit lower than the US’s global 50%, pending an agreement on secure supply chains and assurances over Chinese-owned British Steel.
Trump praised Starmer’s work and remarked that the UK is “very well protected… because I like them.”
Read a full WTX News breakdown of the UK-US trade deal
What has Trump said about the deal?
The US president was full of praise for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying that whilst the UK leader might be a bit more “liberal” he’s done a fantastic job.
“We’re very longtime partners and allies and friends, and we’ve become friends in a short period of time. He’s slightly more liberal than I am,” Trump joked.
‘I like the UK … that’s why they are protected’
Asked if the UK was now protected from future tariffs, Trump said: “The UK is very well protected. You know why? Because I like them – that’s their ultimate protection.”
‘Starmer has done a great job’
He added: “The prime minister has done a great job. I want to just tell that to the people of the United Kingdom. He’s done a very, very good job. He’s done what other people, they’ve been talking about this deal for six years, and he’s done what they haven’t been able to do. So he’s done really a very good job.”
What Next
The aerospace and automotive tariff cuts are expected to take effect within weeks, providing a boost to jobs and exports. Meanwhile, negotiators are working on a steel quota tied to national security conditions; full 0% tariffs on core steel products remain the end goal.
Both leaders also discussed broader issues like beef imports, US sanctions on Russia, and the Middle East conflict, signalling deeper UK‑US alignment on economic and security fronts.
