President Donald Trump said he will join representatives from the United Kingdom in the Oval Office on Thursday morning to announce a “major trade deal,” which he promises will be the “first of many.”
Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday night, hinting at the announcement with a “highly respected” country before posting again on Thursday morning and revealing that it will be the United Kingdom. The trade deal is set to be announced in a press conference in the Oval Office at 10:00 a.m. ET, according to Trump.
“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,” the president said. “Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!”
A British official told The New York Times that the deal would benefit both countries, but did not offer specifics.
Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House in late February, before Trump rolled out his “Liberation Day” tariffs affecting nearly every country in the world. Trump’s move imposed a 10% tariff on U.K. imports, which took effect on April 5. The European country is also being hit by Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium and car parts. The United Kingdom threatened a retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods as it prepared for Trump’s levy to go into effect last month. Even before Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement, the United Kingdom had already imposed a tariff on some U.S. goods, including a 10% duty on car imports.
Whether Trump’s deal with the United Kingdom will result in the cancellation of the tariff on the country will be a key point of interest in the press conference, as it could signal how the Trump administration is pursuing deals with other nations. The administration says it is close to coming to trade agreements with dozens of countries, and White House officials will finally begin talks with China on Saturday.
During a cabinet meeting earlier this week, Trump said that the United States “could sign 25 deals right now,” but added that it’s up to other countries “to sign deals with us.”
“They want a piece of our market,” he added. “We don’t want a piece of their market, we don’t care about their market.”
