On Wednesday, during a parliamentary session, Starmer stated that the U.K. is actively “negotiating an economic deal that will address tariffs if we are successful.” He also emphasized that while the U.K. has so far avoided retaliation in response to Trump’s metal tariffs, all available options remain on the table.
Reynolds reiterated this stance, saying, “We are committed to a pragmatic approach and are swiftly negotiating a broader economic agreement with the U.S. This agreement aims to eliminate additional tariffs and provide tangible benefits for U.K. businesses and our economy.” His statement followed the implementation of Trump’s new metal tariffs.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that “the business secretary is expected to travel to Washington next week to discuss the broader economic agreement.” They emphasized, “Securing the right deal remains our top priority, and we will continue working toward that goal.”
This visit comes just ahead of Trump’s next wave of tariffs, set to take effect on April 2. These new “reciprocal” tariffs will raise U.S. duties on imports to match those imposed by countries such as the U.K.
Reynolds has been in frequent discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding both the economic deal and Trump’s tariff plans. Over the past three weeks, the two have had multiple calls, and, according to the Downing Street spokesperson, Reynolds will “continue advancing these discussions” during his visit.
Meanwhile, Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, has been spearheading efforts to secure a technology-driven “MEGA” (Make our Economies Great Again) trade deal with the U.S. administration. Mandelson has been working on this initiative since his arrival in Washington early last month.
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