The flailing Labour government hopes its new trade deals with India and, most recently, the U.S., are a sign its fortunes are changing. “We promised change,” said Chancellor Rachel Reeves, “and we are delivering.”
It is actually Brexit—not Keir Starmer’s team—that has delivered, according to Tory Lord Hannan. Donald Trump himself said that Britain was “unable” to make a deal while it was in the European Union, “but now they made it, and it’s tremendous.”
Trump: “a big part of that decision was always that you’d be able to make a deal with the United States. And they were unable to do that. But now they made it, and it’s a tremendous. It’s very important, that was always a big part of your decision on Brexit, they were never able…
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) May 8, 2025
The Daily Telegraph’s financial writer Matthew Lynn also described the UK-U.S. deal as “further proof to EU countries that they may well be economically better off outside the bloc.”
But none of this is to say the deal itself is great for Britain. Indeed, Trump also shared a graphic highlighting U.S. tariffs on the UK rising and measures the other way around going down.
Financial Times commentator Chris Giles suggested this was proof “that post-Brexit the UK has been reduced to seeking scraps from the big boys’ tables,” whereas it likely says more about the calibre of Britain’s trade-confused officials.
Campaigners also warned that “British farming has been sold down the river by the government” with concessions on American food and agriculture in return for the easing of tariffs on (some) UK car exports.
The UK and US have struck a trade deal – with Keir Starmer and the UK government agreeing to concessions on American food and agriculture in return for easing tariffs on British car exports. British farming has been sold down the river by the government.
— No Farmers, No Food (@NoFarmsNoFoods) May 8, 2025
Britain’s deal with India also isn’t without its faults, including a big tax exemption for Indian migrants, which will disadvantage UK workers.
Some lessons here, then, for officials in Brussels who are desperate to secure a deal of their own—not that they’re likely to take heed. Experience would certainly suggest otherwise.
Trump said on Thursday that he is looking forward to meeting the “fantastic” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after which she blushed that “I like compliments in general.”
