LAST UPDATE | 8 May

AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS will gain access to British markets in a new trade agreement between the US and the UK.

US President Donald Trump and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the agreement as a reminder of the historic relationship between both of their countries today when discussing the announcement by phone.

The agreement, which comes following the imposition of tariffs by the US in the UK last month, was flagged in advance of the announcement this afternoon as a “full and comprehensive agreement”.

Starmer said the main areas the trade deal focuses on are technology, car manufacturing and metal imports, claiming it will create more employment and economic opportunities for the UK.

The deal opens up the British agricultural market to American farmers, a move which might impact agricultural trade between Ireland and the UK. Trump said there could be a ‘dramatic’ increase in beef exports from the States.

US tariffs are still a reality for the UK however. Asked if he believes this trade deal can lead to a position where there is a zero-tariff arrangement between the two countries, Starmer said he was confident that that could be achieved.

American tariffs on British cars have been reduced from nearly 28% to 10% under the deal, Starmer said, labelling it a “huge and important reduction” for brands such as Jaguar Land Rover (the press conference was held at the company’s offices).

The US president posted to Truth Social this morning: “The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.”

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Asked if he oversold the deal, of which the details have yet to be fully revealed, Trump insisted the deal was far-reaching and can be expanded.

“This is a very conclusive deal, but we think we can grow it even from that,” Trump told reporters after announcing the pact.

“This is a maxed-out deal – not like you said it, really incorrectly,” he added, answering a reporter’s question on whether he was overstating the breadth of the trade agreement.

Includes reporting by © AFP 2025