Starmer and Trump discuss ‘productive negotiations’ on economic deal

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have agreed that “productive negotiations” about an economic deal between the UK and US will “continue at pace”, Downing Street has said, ahead of a looming deadline on US tariffs.

The Sunday night phone call between pair comes after sources at No 10 said the government was prepared to retaliate against US trade taxes if needed.

British negotiators are trying to win a last-minute exemption ahead of Trump’s 25% levy on car imports, which is expected to come in on Wednesday.

Trump has imposed a series of tariffs targeting goods from other countries in the first few months of his second term in the White House, with threats of wider taxes also being imposed.

The prime minister has previously said he does not want to jump into a trade war with the US. The government has argued the UK has a relatively equal trading relationship with the US, compared to its other partners.

The US president argues the measures will help American manufacturers and protect jobs, despite warnings prices could go up for consumers.

During a meeting between the prime minister and president at the White House last month, Trump hinted at “a real trade deal” which could see the UK avoid the kind of tariffs he has been threatening other countries with.

In their call on Sunday, the two leaders also discussed continuing to pressure Russia over the Ukraine war, Downing Street’s spokesperson said.

“Discussing Ukraine, the prime minister updated the president on the productive discussions at the meeting of the Coalition of Willing in Paris this week,” they said.

“The leaders agreed on the need to keep up the collective pressure on Putin.”

No 10 said Trump began the call by sending King Charles III his best wishes, after the monarch experienced temporary side effects during cancer treatment earlier in the week.