Live updates: Trump announces 'tremendous trade deal' with UK

Admin | May 08, 2025

President Donald Trump touted a “tremendous trade deal” between the U.S. and United Kingdom as he discussed the first trade agreement since he imposed sweeping tariffs in April.

“I'm thrilled to announce that we have reached a breakthrough trade deal with the United Kingdom,” Trump said May 8 from the Oval Office, noting that the agreement happened to fall on "Victory Day" in celebration of the end of World War II. “There could be no more perfect morning to reach this historic agreement,” Trump said.

Trump said the agreement would provide billions of dollars in access for U.S. agricultural products such as beef and ethanol. “They’re opening up their country,” Trump said. “Their country is a little closed and we appreciate it.”United Kingdom Prime Minister Keri Starmer was put on a speaker phone for the announcement and called it a “really fantastic, historic day” that coincided with the end of World War II in Europe.

“This is going to boost trade between and across our countries,” Starmer siad.

Trump had imposed reciprocal tariffs on a slew of countries April 2 but later paused most of them for 90 days, saying those nations' leaders were eager to negotiate trade deals. Since then administration officials repeatedly have said they are close to making deals.The UK wasn't hit with a reciprocal tariff, but faced a 10% universal tariff and 25% tariffs Trump imposed on foreign automobiles, steel and aluminum.

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