Pressure is building on Sir Keir Starmer to win a better trade deal with the US (Image: Getty)
Britain must “maximise pressure” on President Trump during this week’s state visit for a better trade deal which will support the nation’s struggling steel sectors, a cross party group of MPs has urged. Despite the UK agreeing an “economic prosperity deal” in May to spare the country the full brunt of US tariffs, the Business and Trade committee warns British exporters now trade “on terms which are worse than before President Trump came to office”.
Its members wants to US to be pushed to agree the “final terms” of a deal which will end uncertainty, secure supply lines and drive investment to the UK.
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The US accounts for nearly a fifth (18%) of UK trade but the MPs say “critical” British industries including steel, aluminium and pharmaceuticals are in a “state of uncertainty”. They further warn the UK now has “less favourable terms” in some areas that the European Union.
Their report says it is “vital” the Government hikes up pressure on the US during the state visit and afterwards to agree final terms for an economic prosperity deal which will “end the threat of future sectoral tariffs” and improve terms in areas where the EU has negotiated a competitive advantage.
Liam Byrne, the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury who chairs the committee, said: “[We] can’t escape the truth that Britain now trades with its biggest partner on terms that are worse than the past, the EU has in places secured a better edge, and key sectors of our economy still face the peril of new tariffs. That means jobs hang in the balance and investment waits on certainty.”
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The Food and Drink Federation has warned the UK faces higher tariffs than the EU on goods including ice cream (30% instead of 15%), soft drinks (20% instead of 15%) and cheddar cheese (22% instead of 15%).
The MPs calls for the final deal to be open to full democratic scrutiny in Parliament.
My Byrne said: “There is a great prize for us to seize. Britain’s science, AI and the City of London, joined with America’s tech giants and venture markets, could set the standards of this century and help secure Western leadership over China for decades to come. But that means we have got to turn paper promises into a binding bargain that ends the tariff tempest that is battering British exporters and investors.”
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Britain and the US have ￡1.2trillion invested in each other’s economies.
The US is among the UK's most important trading partners (Image: AP)
A Government spokesperson said: “Our special relationship with the US remains strong. Thanks to our trade deal, the UK is still the only country to have avoided 50% steel and aluminium tariffs, and we continue to partner on technologies such as AI, quantum, and cyber security in our trillion-dollar tech sectors.
“We will work with the US to implement this landmark deal as soon as possible to give industry the security they need, protect vital jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets through the plan for change, as well as welcoming the President on this historic state visit.”
COMMENT by Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade committee
President Trump’s State Visit is no mere pageant.
It is a test. A test of whether Britain and America can enlarge the future – or remain trapped in a tariff fight that serves neither nation well.
Winston Churchill warned in 1940: “If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future.” That wisdom serves us well.
The President may bristle at yesterday’s trade deals. But the future is the greater prize – a deeper US-UK partnership that keeps the West safer, stronger and richer at a pivotal moment in world history.
Sir Keir Starmer deserves credit for securing the new General Terms of an Economic Prosperity Deal. But let’s be honest: Britain is trading with its biggest partner on worse terms than before.
Industry called it “the best deal we could have hoped for under the circumstances.” Best under duress. Relief without permanence.
And in some areas, our European neighbours have actually done better, striking agreements that leave British exporters at a disadvantage.
Meanwhile, key industries – steel, aluminium and pharmaceuticals – still face reviews about new tariffs in the months to come. So investment stalls. Jobs hang in the balance.
Capital looks for safer shores. That is why the US deal cannot stop where it stands.
The State Visit must turn paper promises into strategic purpose and a binding bargain.
Because this is about more than tariffs. It is about technology.
As Eric Schmidt once put it: “Technology is the power in superpower.” The US leads with its giant tech firms and deep venture markets.
Britain leads with Europe’s most dynamic AI hub, world-class science and the City of London. Alone, each is strong. Together, we can set the standards of the century.
That is why Britain must now press for tariff parity with the EU – ending uncertainty, unlocking investment, and enlarging the future we share with America.
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