Starmer says UK-US trade deal a 'fantastic, historic day'

Starmer says UK-US trade deal a 'fantastic, historic day'
Prime minister Keir Starmer said Thursday it was a "really fantastic, historic day," after he agreed a US-UK trade deal with president Donald Trump. The agreement lifts tariffs on UK steel and aluminium products and slashes levies on British car exports from 27.5 per cent to 10 per cent, Downing Street said. "This is a really fantastic, historic day," Starmer said, appearing by video link to join Trump in the White House during simultaneous news conferences in Britain and Washington.
"It's going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access," Starmer added, paying "tribute" to both negotiating teams. The UK government said in a statement that the cut in car tariffs would save Jaguar Land Rover "hundreds of millions" of pounds a year. The reduction will apply to a quota of 100,000 UK cars, almost the total Britain exported last year, the government added.
"That is a huge and important reduction," Starmer said during a visit to a Jaguar Land Rover factory in the central Midlands area of England.
The deal also includes new reciprocal market access on beef, with UK farmers given a tariff free quota for 13,000 metric tonnes, the British government said.
It added that the agreement does not dilute British food standards. The UK government has repeatedly said it would not allow chlorinated US chicken into the country.