UK and US announce trade deal to save thousands of British jobs, Starmer says

The UK and US have agreed a trade deal, with Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump confirming the announcement during a live televised phone call.

It is the first trade deal agreed after Mr Trump began his second presidential term in January, and after he imposed strict tariffs on countries around the world in April. Sir Keir said the "first-of-a-kind" deal with the US will save thousands of jobs across the UK, boost British business and protect British industry.

Politics latest: Trump and Starmer say trade deal just the start The deal includes: • Lowering 27.5% tariff on British car exports to the US to 10%, affecting 100,000 vehicles each year • UK steel and aluminium industries will no longer face any tariffs after they had 25% duties placed on them • Beef exports allowed both ways • UK to have "preferential treatment whatever happens in the future" on pharmaceuticals, the president said. However, there is a still a 10% tariff on most UK goods imported into the US after Mr Trump imposed that duty on most countries' exports last month.

Mr Trump said the "final details" of the agreement were still being "written up". Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the Politics Hub with Ali Fortescue: "It is a brilliant deal because without the breakthrough on these sectoral tariffs that we've been able to announce today, thousands of people stood to lose their jobs very soon in the UK, and the economic damage to the UK would have been very significant from there." He said the deal is only the first part and negotiations on the 10% tariffs are "still ongoing".

Trade minister Douglas Alexander told parliament the UK has "committed to further negotiations on tariff reductions". MPs will be able to debate the deal and any legislation needed to implement it, he added.

Sir Keir said "this is a really fantastic, historic day" that will "boost trade between and across our countries.