Lord Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to the US, praised the recent UK-US trade deal, emphasizing its potential to facilitate further trade opportunities. Since starting his role in February, Lord Mandelson has been integral in negotiating the reduction or removal of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on UK imports like cars, steel, and aluminium. In an interview with BBC Two’s Newsnight, he expressed optimism for future agreements aimed at lowering tariffs even more.
Trump initially announced tariffs on UK exports to the US, but on Thursday, the US agreed to exempt certain steel and aluminium imports from tariffs and reduce levies on British cars. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the UK’s Digital Services Tax (DST), which mainly affects US tech companies. Despite the topic being raised during negotiations, Lord Mandelson clarified that eliminating the DST was not part of the trade deal and remains subject to further discussions.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro revealed that negotiations are still ongoing to address the UK’s DST, which Trump views as a significant issue. Reflecting on the relationship between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Trump, Lord Mandelson highlighted their commitment to defending national interests and fostering strong relations with allies. He praised Sir Keir as a leader who exemplifies standing up for Britain internationally and maintaining positive diplomatic ties. Following the successful trade deal, Lord Mandelson received messages of congratulations from fellow ambassadors in Washington, highlighting the achievement as a commendable milestone for the UK
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