On April 30, industry insiders began to suspect that a major deal was in the works when key officials — including Bryant Trick, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, and Graham Floater, Director for U.S. Trade at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) — were noticeably absent from a scheduled meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, focused on small and medium-sized enterprises from both countries.
Although their absence was officially attributed to transport issues, one attendee at the meeting noted, “I felt like it was one of the signs that something significant was happening behind the scenes. Everything got a lot more serious in the last couple of weeks.”
At the heart of the negotiations was Amanda Brooks, DBT’s Director General for Trade Negotiations. Having worked simultaneously on trade deals with both India and the United States, Brooks appeared energized and upbeat at a gala event held at Mansion House on Wednesday. Dressed in a striking red outfit, she was seen engaging in enthusiastic but discreet conversation with leading business figures.
“Amanda really is the driving force behind DBT’s trade efforts,” said one industry insider. Another added, “She’s incredibly composed and efficient — juggling multiple major negotiations at once.”
Another key player in the process was Varun Chandra, a former executive at the secretive advisory firm Hakluyt and now the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s business adviser. Chandra maintained regular contact with influential American counterparts, including U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. According to reporting from The Guardian, Chandra traveled to the U.S. this week to help finalize the agreement.
Also deeply involved was Peter Mandelson, a seasoned political figure from the Tony Blair era, who joined former U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday. He was accompanied by Mungo Woodifield, the British Embassy’s Minister Counsellor for Trade. Behind the scenes, Mandelson engaged privately with business groups to understand what the UK could offer to the U.S. in negotiations. He also leveraged his opulent Washington residence to host a series of high-level events, including three parties in just four days during the White House Correspondents’ Weekend.
Together, this team of negotiators and advisers played critical roles in shaping what appears to be a landmark trade agreement.
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