UK Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds is set to meet with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of a trade deal, as recent US tariffs on steel add new complications to the negotiations.
Reynolds will review recently agreed deals with counterparts from the US and EU, UK’s two biggest trading partners, during a three-day trip to Paris and Brussels this week.
The deals struck last month are both political pacts rather than formal trade agreements, and the details of their implementation have not been set out.
‘Body Blow’
Starmer and US President Donald Trump agreed to reduce tariffs on British imports of cars and steel to the United States, but its delayed implementation means tariffs may go up before they come down.
Last week, Trump said that tariffs on imported steel would rise to 50% from 25% from Wednesday. Industry body UK Steel said it understood that British producers would likely be impacted by the change, which would be a “body blow” to the sector.
‘Relationship Must Evolve’
A British government spokesperson said the UK was engaging with the US on the implications of the announcement ahead of Reynolds’ meeting with Greer to discuss implementation timelines of the bilateral agreement in Paris.
“We recognise our relationship with G7 allies and EU counterparts must continue to evolve and deliver a better trading environment for our businesses and exporters,” Reynolds said in a statement ahead of the trip.
Meeting With Indian Counterpart
Reynolds will also meet Indian Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal to discuss a recently negotiated Free Trade Agreement, which is still having its legal text finalised and is subject to ratification in both countries, which could take months.
After meetings with G7 and OECD counterparts in Paris, Reynolds will hold talks with EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic.
As part of efforts to reset ties without fundamentally reopening the Brexit deal, Britain and the EU have agreed to conclude talks to remove red tape on its food trade, but details of the plan have yet to be finalised.
In advance of that agreement coming into force, Britain on Monday said it would scrap border checks on fruit and vegetables imported from the European Union, that had been due to be effective beginning in July.
(With inputs from Reuters)
