UK and EU to sign ‘free and open trade’ declaration amid Donald Trump's tariff war
29 April 2025, 09:24
Britain and the EU have announced a “new strategic partnership” to boost trade in a major show of force against US President Donald Trump's tariff agenda.
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A UK-EU formal declaration committing to “free and open trade” is set to be signed, with a draft being drawn up ahead of a summit on May 19 seen as a vital moment in post-Brexit UK-EU relations.
A leaked draft dated April 25 says the partnership will also be based on “maintaining global economic stability", according to Politico.
"We confirmed our shared principles of maintaining global economic stability and our mutual commitment to free and open trade,” the draft said.
It added that the sides would continue working “on how we can mitigate the impact of fluctuations in the global economic order”, the Guardian reports.
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It comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains locked in negotiations with Trump's team as he scrambles to escape the headwinds of the US' tariff agenda by striking a special deal.
Currently, the UK faces a 10% tariff, with the EU facing 20%.
The White House has said on Tuesday negotiations between the UK and the US are “moving in a very positive way,”.
Speaking during a briefing on Monday, Donald Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed discussions are progressing well as the UK continues to seek an economic deal with Washington.
Downing Street hopes any such deal would lessen the impact of Donald Trump’s global campaign of tariffs.Leavitt said: "As for the trade talks, I understand they are moving in a very positive way with the UK.
Last week, British Chancellor Rachel Reeves met with her US counterpart and held “positive” trade talks.
The Chancellor met US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Friday afternoon, after having claimed Britain’s relationship with the EU is “arguably even more important” than trading links with the US.
Ms Reeves said the discussions had focused on “reaching an agreement that is in both our national interests” in a post on X, formerly Twitter, following the meeting.“We’re all grappling with this issue of tariffs but I think that there is an understanding why President Trump wants to address some of the global imbalances there are in the system,” she told the broadcaster.
Ms Reeves has said there is “a deal to be done” with Washington, despite suggestions from senior US officials that Trump regards the 10% tariff as a “baseline” he is unlikely to go below.
"I don't want to get ahead of the president or our trade team in how those negotiations are going, but I have heard they have been very positive and productive with the UK."
