Donald Trump has opened the door to a attainable US-UK commerce deal with out tariffs after a gathering with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
As a part of a European allure offensive launched to safe a long-lasting peace in Ukraine, following on from Emmanuel Macron’s personal journey on Monday, Sir Keir met the US president on the White Home yesterday.
It comes forward of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s personal go to to Washington at present.
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Sky correspondents dissect the transatlantic assembly
‘Powerful negotiator’
The Republican president has slapped tariffs on numerous nations within the early weeks of his first time period, together with utilizing them to strain allies into motion.
However he hinted the UK may keep away from that destiny.
Mr Trump mentioned he thought the UK and US may find yourself with a “real trade deal” with out tariffs and known as Sir Keir a “tough negotiator” who had tried to steer him to not impose commerce tariffs on the UK.
“He was working hard, I’ll tell you that,” the president added.
“He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there, but he tried.
“I believe there’s an excellent probability that within the case of those two nice, pleasant nations, I believe we may very properly find yourself with an actual commerce deal the place the tariffs would not be essential. We’ll see.”
Picture:
Sir Keir Starmer the Trump charmer.
Pic: PA
Trump’s ‘nice heat spot’
The surprisingly constructive assembly adopted current weeks by which it appeared the transatlantic relationship had come below pressure, following Mr Trump’s intervention to attempt to deliver concerning the finish of the struggle in Ukraine.
Mr Trump spoke concerning the UK, saying: “I have investments there, I own Turnberry, I own Aberdeen, and I own a great place called Doonbeg in Ireland [Ireland isn’t in the UK].
“So, I’ve an awesome heat spot in your nation.”
Ukraine, Chagos and a royal invite
The key reason for the visit was to try to bring about a sustainable peace in Ukraine.
Mr Starmer followed Mr Macron into the Oval Office in an effort to win over Mr Trump after his administration held unilateral talks with Russia last week, without Ukraine, in a move that set off sirens throughout Europe’s capitals.
However, Mr Trump offered no security guarantees during the meeting with Sir Keir and the two leaders struck different tones.
While Mr Trump said “if it [a peace deal] would not occur rapidly, it could not occur in any respect”, Sir Keir said “historical past have to be on the aspect of the peacemaker, not the invader.”
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An ‘intense session’ however ‘fairly good outing’
The actions of Sir Keir and Mr Macron mirrored a continent jolted into motion.
Sir Keir not too long ago introduced a historic hike to defence spending as properly – one thing Mr Trump has beforehand known as for.
Mr Zelenskyy is making the identical journey to the US the place he’ll sit down and thrash out a attainable deal on crucial minerals in Ukraine.
The financial deal has confirmed a vital precursor of any potential peace settlement.
Mr Trump has mentioned it might see American employees in Ukraine – one thing that might act as an efficient backstop to any peacekeeping forces there, he claimed.
On the Chagos Islands deal, over which some have criticised Mr Starmer, Mr Trump mentioned the plan to surrender sovereignty and lease again the US-UK base would “work out well”.
Earlier than talks between the 2 sides, Sir Keir produced, with a flourish, a letter from the King written to Mr Trump, inviting him for an “unprecedented” second state go to.
The letter, marked “private and confidential”, invited the royal-loving president to the UK, with talks forward of the formal state go to to debate logistics and a possible programme.
