JD Vance: US-UK trade deal likely as Trump loves Britain

Authored by thetimes.com and submitted by TimesandSundayTimes
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President Trump’s affection for Britain means there is a good chance of a “great” trade deal JD Vance, the vice-president, has said.

“The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship,” Vance said in an interview.

The vice-president’s comments are likely to be greeted with optimism by British negotiators pushing for a deal to ease levies in the wake of Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs. The UK is attempting to reduce the 25 per cent tariffs that Trump imposed on cars, steel and aluminium.

JD Vance has criticised Europe for being too reliant on US support ANDREW HARNIK/GETTY IMAGES

Trump and Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle in 2018 TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE

“We’re certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer’s government” on a trade deal, Vance told UnHerd, a news and opinion website.

He added: “With the United Kingdom, we have a much more reciprocal relationship than we have with, say, Germany … While we love the Germans, they are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany.”

leaningtoweravenger on April 15th, 2025 at 11:16 UTC »

I love the fact that this administration is visceral and emotional: deals are not made because they are convenient or useful, but because Trump likes them. It's the "my little pony" style of government

RobottoRisotto on April 15th, 2025 at 07:15 UTC »

Trying to drive a wedge in between the UK and the EU, eh?

TimesandSundayTimes on April 15th, 2025 at 07:04 UTC »

From The Times:

President Trump’s affection for Britain means a “great” trade deal is highly likely, JD Vance, the vice-president, has said.

“The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship,” Vance said in an interview.

The vice-president’s comments are likely to be greeted with optimism by British negotiators pushing for a deal to ease levies in the wake of Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. The UK is attempting to reduce the 25% tariffs that Trump imposed on cars, steel and aluminium.

He added: “With the United Kingdom, we have a much more reciprocal relationship than we have with, say, Germany … While we love the Germans, they are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany”