UK business minister flies to US for trade talks
The United Kingdom seeks to make progress on a trade agreement with the United States under the Trump administration.
LONDON, United Kingdom – UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will meet US counterparts in Washington on Tuesday to try to make progress in talks on a trade deal between the two countries.
Reynolds is also expected to press President Donald Trump’s administration to drop Britain from steel import tariffs.
READ: EU industry ministers to meet over steel tariffs
The minister will meet US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer for their first in-person discussions since Trump returned to the White House in January, Britain’s business and trade department said in a statement.
“Today’s visit to Washington DC is the latest step in our pragmatic and positive engagement with the new administration to agree a wider economic deal in both our interests,” Reynolds said in a statement.
The United States is the UK’s single largest country trading partner, with over £1.2 trillion ($1.5 trillion) invested in each other’s economies.
Britain had hoped to sign a free trade accord with the United States upon leaving the European Union but talks quickly broke down.
Officials are currently believed to be discussing a much smaller deal, possibly tailored to specific industries like technology and artificial intelligence.
The visit comes just days after Trump imposed levies of 25 percent on global steel and aluminum imports.
Unlike the European Union, Britain has not imposed retaliatory tariffs on the United States.
Instead, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government was “negotiating an economic deal which covers and will include tariffs if we succeed”.
“Protecting and growing the industries that power the UK and play a key role in delivering our plan for change is a priority for this government,” Reynolds said.
“The UK and US share a fair and balanced relationship, one that has benefitted both sides for many decades, and we will both benefit as we strengthen this relationship further.”
During a meeting at the White House last month, Starmer had tried to convince Trump to exempt Britain from any tariffs.
Britain exports about 10 percent of its steel to the United States, worth nearly £400 million in 2023.
Following Trump’s announcement of 25 percent levies last month, the UK responded by unveiling a multibillion-pound plan to protect its steel industry.
