Trump says U.S., Britain working on ‘great’ trade deal

President Trump praises UK Prime Minister Starmer's negotiating skills, hinting at a potential post-Brexit trade deal to avoid tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump held out the prospect of a “great” post-Brexit trade deal that could avoid tariffs on Britain on Thursday (February 27, 2025) — as he hailed Prime Minister Keir Starmer as a tough negotiator.

“We’re going to have a great trade agreement, one way or the other,” Mr. Trump told reporters during a joint press conference with Mr. Starmer at the White House, adding that a new deal could come together “rather quickly.”

Pro-Brexit politicians dangled the promise of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal as one of the benefits of leaving the European Union ahead of the 2016 referendum on EU membership.

But they failed to agree a deal following the vote.

Billionaire property tycoon Mr. Trump, who authored a book called the “Art of the Deal,” hailed former human rights lawyer Starmer’s negotiating skills during the press conference.

“You’re a very tough negotiator — I’m not sure I like that, but that’s ok,” Mr. Trump joked.

Asked if Mr. Starmer had managed to persuade him to drop the threat of tariffs, the U.S. President chuckled and said: “He tried. he was working hard, I’ll tell you that.”