US President Signs Proclamation to Implement UK Trade Deal

The U.S. President and British Prime Minister announced on Monday that they have finalized a trade agreement reached last month, and the U.S. President has signed a proclamation to officially implement the deal. Speaking together at an international summit in Canada, the U.S. leader described the relationship with the UK as “fantastic” while holding up the signed proclamation.

He confirmed the proclamation was signed, making the deal official, and clarified that it was specifically with the UK. The British Prime Minister explained that the proclamation would put into effect agreements related to automobile tariffs and aerospace, though he did not provide further details. He called the proclamation a positive step for both countries and a clear sign of their strong partnership.

Sources familiar with the matter noted that the proclamation addresses trade provisions covering steel, ethanol, automobiles, and beef. The U.S. Commerce Secretary is tasked with setting a quota on UK steel and aluminum imports that can enter the U.S. without facing the current 25% tariff on steel. Additional specifics have not yet been released.

The UK was the first country to secure tariff reductions under the current U.S. administration, with the proclamation implementing lower tariffs on UK cars, aluminum, and steel, while Britain agreed to reduce tariffs on U.S. beef and ethanol. The process of putting the deal into effect had been delayed as final details were being worked out.

British officials hailed the proclamation as a major win for their aerospace and automotive industries, emphasizing that the UK is the only nation to have secured such a deal with the U.S. Trade officials highlighted the unusually fast implementation, saying that trade agreements often take months to become effective, but this proclamation brings the first agreements into force within weeks.

The two countries agreed on reciprocal access for 13,000 metric tons of beef, with the understanding that U.S. exports must meet strict UK food safety standards. Efforts will continue to secure favorable terms for the UK pharmaceutical sector and to protect industries from potential tariffs stemming from ongoing U.S. investigations.

Previously, the UK had avoided tariffs of up to 50% on steel and aluminum imposed on other countries by the U.S., but this exemption risked ending on July 9 without the proclamation finalizing tariff reductions.