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Sir Keir Starmer was struck last week by voters in local elections, leaving his Labor Party in a state of great anxiety. But Thursday, the British Prime Minister was able to salute a success on the international scene: a trade agreement with Donald Trump.
The agreement should be of narrow reach and will largely be a limitation exercise of damage. Starmer can expect criticism of adversaries when details emerge exactly what he has given to Trump British spare and steel cars full weight of 25% of American rates.
There will also be a meticulous examination of the question of whether Great Britain, in its precipitation to obtain a commercial agreement with America, has obtained good conditions compared to the other countries with which the American president is negotiating.
But for the moment Starr Will win some applause for having been the first world leader in concluding an agreement with Trump since the American president announced sweeping prices last month.
“If we can get an agreement with India, Trump and the EU in the next three weeks, it would be the dream scenario,” a British minister told Financial Times on Monday.
Starmer accepted a Commercial agreement with India Tuesday, and a new “strategic partnership” Post-Brexit UK / EU should be agreed at a summit in London on May 19, engaging the two parties to more in-depth cooperation in defense and commerce.
Thursday's agreement should focus on cutting us price On British car and steel exports – both subject to 25% of samples – while British negotiators have also sought to persuade the Trump team not to impose major prices in the future.
“We focused on major articles – automobiles and steel, and prospectively others in the views of the Americans,” said a British official, citing pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and aerospace as future potential targets of Trump. “Yes, it is narrow but it covers major articles of trade.”
Great Britain sold 6.4 billion pounds sterling in cars in the United States in 2023-18% of all British car exports-while the Sidelume Industry of the United Kingdom sells around 400 million pounds sterling of its products on the American market.
Great Britain has also sold 8.8 billion pounds of medical sterling and pharmaceutical Products in the United States, which is the largest British trading partner.
Starmer's successes on the world scene contrast with his domestic work. Yougov's latest survey shows that 61% think it does bad job, with only 27% saying that it is fine.
According to disgruntled labor deputies, voters are much more concerned with the starmer plan Remove winter fuel payments 10 million retirees than high -level negotiations on prices.
Starmer won a modest poll after his visit to the White House in February and his efforts a few days later to bring together a “coalition of the will” to fill a Western military vacuum in Ukraine left by the United States.
The way to the United Kingdom's trade agreement on Thursday in the United States was bumpy. “He progressed in adjustment and departures,” said a British negotiator. Starmer was efficient in his Trump flattery to keep the negotiations on the right track, leaving many Labor deputies to hold their teeth.
“An essential ally both in economic and national security” is the way Starmer described Trump in a speech of the day in London on Thursday. “A large and very respected country” is the way Trump describes Great Britain on Truth Social.
Lord Peter Mandelson, British ambassador in Washington, has developed networks in the Trump team to keep the United Kingdom at the forefront of the president's mind. Scott Bessent, American secretary of the Treasury, is considered to be particularly useful in London.
Mandelson realized very early on that it would be difficult to persuade Trump to reduce its global reference rate to 10% – although hopes remain British cuts lower on the track – so the emphasis was put on the most exposed British industrial sectors.
British negotiators consider Thursday's agreement on prices as a prelude to new talks, in particular by developing a “Technological Partnership of the United Kingdom, which Mandelson has priority upon arrival in Washington this year.
Starmer knows that regardless of the price he pays for Thursday's agreement, he will be too high for some of his political opponents. British price cuts – in areas such as cars and meat exports – should be part of the agreement. Downing Street firmly refused to guarantee deputies a vote on the pact.
But Starmer has so far refused to move on American requirements that Great Britain should cut its animal food and well-being standards to allow more exports of American beef and chicken. Such a concession would have extended the trade closer to the United Kingdom in the foodstuff.
However, a reduction in British prices on agricultural products could open the door to more ox and American chicken, as long as it was in accordance with British standards. According to the US National Chicken Council, an industry group, only 5% of the United States, the American chicken is currently washed in chlorine.
David Hénig, a commercial expert at the Ecipus reflection group, said: “An American agreement looks like more evidence that this British government is in the mood to conclude trade agreements rather than training them in the hope that this gives a better result.
“With Trump, any agreement must be a risk because it could change its policy again tomorrow.”
To Starmer, under pressure to show voters that his government offers, it is a risk that he is ready to take.
Additional David Sheppard and Peter Foster report
