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JD Vance: US ‘working very hard’ with UK on negotiating ‘great’ trade deal

15 Apr 2025 3 minute read
US Vice President JD Vance. Photo Niall Carson/PA Wire

The US is “working very hard” with the UK on negotiating a “great” trade deal, vice president JD Vance has said.

US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports to the United States several weeks ago, rocking the world economy, sending stock prices tumbling and sparking fears of a global recession.

Since then, Mr Trump has rowed back on tariffs, reducing the rate paid on imports from most countries to 10% and, on Saturday, exempting electronics such as smartphones and laptops from the levy – including the 145% charge on imports from China.

Tariffs

The Government has been hopeful of a deal to exempt the UK from Mr Trump’s tariffs, and in an interview with the website UnHerd on Tuesday, Mr Vance said he was optimistic that both sides could come to a mutually beneficial agreement.

“We’re certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer’s government” on a trade deal, Mr Vance said.

“The President really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And he’s a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think it’s much deeper than that.

“There’s a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country.

“I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.”

‘Reciprocal relationship’

Mr Vance said the “reciprocal relationship” between the US and UK gave Britain a more advantageous position than other European countries when it comes to negotiating new trade arrangements, adding: “While we love the Germans, they are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany.”

Business and trade minister Sarah Jones welcomed Mr Vance’s comments but declined to comment on the progress of negotiations.

She told LBC: “The conversations are ongoing, I can’t update more than that.

“We know we’re in a good position.

“We are having good conversations.

“The Secretary of State (Jonathan Reynolds) has been having good conversations with his partners and there is a deal there to be done, but as to when that will be done, I wouldn’t be able to tell you, but it’s positive that the vice president is positive about our negotiations.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will aim to continue negotiations for an economic deal with the US later this month when she travels to Washington to attend the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings with other finance ministers.


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14 Comments
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Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
9 hours ago

Brilliant news for the UK and the Labour Party.

John Ellis
John Ellis
8 hours ago

Not if the Trumpians utilize the same strategy and tactics which they’re employing towards Ukraine.

And why wouldn’t they?

Tucker
Tucker
8 hours ago

Enjoy lower standards in food, British farmers suffering competition from cheap imports, tax breaks for tech companies whilst the most vulnerable in UK society face cuts. Sounds wonderful.
Cosying up to Christian facists like Trump and Vance won’t end well. Especially after Vances speech attacking the UK about free speech.

Dyfrug Caradog-Rhydderch
Dyfrug Caradog-Rhydderch
6 hours ago
Reply to  Tucker

Food origin is labelled. Don’t want it don’t buy it. Or is there a problem with that?

hdavies15
hdavies15
4 hours ago

Origin of ingredients are not uniformly disclosed. Ultraprocessed foods with dodgy foreign ingredients like chlorinated chicken should be avoided but not always visible.

Boris
Boris
8 hours ago

We don’t make anything to sell them and they don’t make anything we want apart from American candy.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
7 hours ago
Reply to  Boris

Add Gibson, Fender and most Martins…

Tucker
Tucker
7 hours ago
Reply to  Boris

Tell that to the Welsh companies who are suffering due to the tarrifs

Bert
Bert
33 minutes ago
Reply to  Tucker

The UK exports less to the US than tiny Ireland.

The tariffs are also only 10%. If the exported product is a premium product like whisky that’s valued more for its provenance than price then 10% won’t be a deal-breaker.

The 25% on cars is tougher but again someone buying a £160k Aston Martin made in Wales is probably not looking at the bottom line first.

And don’t forget most rivals are also tarrifed so there’s no loss of business to competitors as a result.

Do you know of any Welsh exports popular with price sensitive consumers that might struggle?

Tucker
Tucker
7 hours ago

So you like to see American corporations taking court action against the UK so they can sell us goods dont co.fprm to our standards. That’s why the last trade deal between the US and EU failed.
The ISDS (Investor-State Dispute Service.) That’s what this trade deal will definitely involve.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
9 hours ago

Vance and Lammy praying together…

That sends a chill for all in the UK @Lemmy not Lammy

Reynolds better wear a stab vest…front and back…

Jeff
Jeff
9 hours ago

Trump in the White House yesterday was caught on a live mic saying they want to send US born and bred to foreign concentration camps. They are already sending people that are legal in the country and no due process.
Wer should walk away from this rogue nation.

Trump wrecks. That is all he does. he will not honour any agreements. We will have abased ourselves on the world stage.

Any Labour MP’s looking in, get your CV updated.

Fanny Hill
Fanny Hill
8 hours ago

Stick your chlorinated chicken where the sun don’t shine.

Adam
Adam
8 hours ago

No thanks, the UK needs to keep well away from this awful state of lunacy.

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