US‑UK trade deal gains momentum amid Trump's UK affection
J.D. Vance, quoted by CNBC, revealed that the British have "a good chance" of striking a deal with the United States. The U.S. Vice President explained that talks about a new trade deal with Keir Starmer's government are ongoing. Moreover, Donald Trump loved Queen Elizabeth II and now loves the United Kingdom.
"We're certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer's government," said Vance in an interview with UnHerd. "The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And he's a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think it's much deeper than that." He is also a businessman and has many important business relations in the UK. But I think it's something much deeper. "There's a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country," explained Vance, quoted by CNBC.
The politician added that an agreement between the countries should be reached soon, which is in the interest of both nations.
Trump's "love" reportedly manifests itself in relatively low tariffs (10%) imposed on the UK by the White House. CNBC emphasizes that the trade exchange between the countries is balanced. The situation is different with services, where the surplus is on the British side.
What the agreement will include and how long it will last are unknown. London is optimistic about the cooperation, which cannot be said about EU countries, on which mutual tariffs of 20% have been imposed. In response, the European Union imposed 25% retaliatory tariffs, which were suspended when Trump first suspended his tariffs.
The White House "loves" the EU too, but less
When asked about cooperation with the EU, Vance replied that the White House could sign new agreements, but they must be "fair." Previously, Donald Trump accused the EU of robbing the United States.
"With the United Kingdom, we have a much more reciprocal relationship than we have with, say, Germany. While we love the Germans, they are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany" assessed the U.S. Vice President.
However, this did not prevent Vance from adding that he "loves Europe."
Vance strongly admired Europe, emphasizing his belief that American and European cultures are deeply intertwined. Yet, his support comes with reservations — he maintains that the European Union must take greater responsibility by boosting its defense expenditures.
He concluded the conversation by saying that Europe should not be a vassal of the USA in terms of security, as it's in no one's interest.
