Maddow Blog-Trump's 'trade deal' with the United Kingdom isn't yet an actual trade deal

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Last edited Fri May 9, 2025, 02:18 PM - Edit history (1)

The president said he’s reached a “conclusive” and “comprehensive” trade deal with the U.K. Reality suggests otherwise.

Whether Navarro understands this or not, Trump's "conclusive trade deal" with the UK is neither conclusive nor a trade deal:

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trumps-trade-deal-united-kingdom-isnt-yet-actual-trade-deal-rcna205623

It’s easy to understand why Donald Trump might be embarrassed by his lack of second-term trade deals. About a month ago, Peter Navarro, the White House’s top trade adviser, boasted in March, “We’re going to run 90 deals in 90 days.” Navarro added that such a plan “is possible” in part because “the boss is going to be the chief negotiator.”....

On Wednesday night, the president used his social media platform to announce that the White House had struck a “MAJOR TRADE DEAL.” The following morning, he added that a “full and comprehensive” trade agreement is in place with the United Kingdom, which was soon followed by another online item in which Trump claimed, “Together with our strong Ally, the United Kingdom, we have reached the first, historic Trade Deal since Liberation Day.”

It all sounded rather exciting — right up until the public learned that the “trade deal” isn’t an actual trade deal, at least not yet. NBC News reported:

The U.S. is working toward finalizing a narrow trade deal with the United Kingdom, President Donald Trump said Thursday, a small step as the White House pursues an aggressive tariff agenda across the globe. According to a document furnished by the U.K., the agreement will see duties on U.K. car imports reduced from 27.5% to 10%, while tariffs on U.K. steel imports will be dropped. In return, the U.K. is lowering trade barriers on U.S. beef imports and ethanol.

The emerging picture is one in which the White House has settled on a non-binding framework for a possible future deal with the United States’ 11th largest trading partner. This sets the stage for a series of additional talks — negotiations that will likely last months — that may or may not lead to an agreement......

The problem, of course, is that the first part of the claim is plainly at odds with the second: If an agreement is still taking shape and is likely to undergo a series of changes, then the new framework obviously is neither “conclusive” nor “comprehensive.”

In his first term, Trump had an unfortunate habit of wildly exaggerating the scope and scale of his narrow trade agreements. In his second term, the Republican is apparently picking up where he left off.

[EYESORE 9001]

1. I don't think he even has a *concept* of a deal

And you f he did, he’d strut and brag so much at the other nation’s expense that no one else would want to follow.

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. More like the 'Fart of a deal." A bit of noise but then it's gone.

[LogDog75]

3. England doesn't want US beef

I was stationed in England in the mid-90s and we bought beef raised in the UK or the European Union in the commissary. American beef couldn't be sold in the UK because most of our beef are raised using hormones and the UK doesn't allow it. For some reason, the Defense Commissary Agency (DCA) sent a ship full of American beef to Germany and England to sell in the commissary. Both countries refused to allow the beef to be sold in their countries so instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars to ship the beef back DCA decided to get around the ban on selling the meat by giving it to American military personnel for free.

There's very little demand for American beef in England so lowering the UK tariff on American beef amounts to doing almost nothing to increase sales of American beef in England. Art of the Deal? I don't think so.

[Tickle]

4. yes and no

the United Kingdom has agreed to increase its imports of U.S. beef under the recent trade agreement announced on May 8, 2025. This deal establishes a reciprocal tariff-free quota of 13,000 metric tonnes for beef exports between the two countries. However, the U.K. maintains its strict food safety standards, including a ban on hormone-treated beef, which means only hormone-free U.S. beef is eligible for import .
The US Sun

While this agreement opens the U.K. market to more U.S. beef, British consumer preferences and existing food standards may limit the immediate impact. Nonetheless, it represents a significant step in enhancing trade relations between the two nations.

[republianmushroom]

5. trump continues to lie a lot.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. These aren't deals. Britain didn't get a deal.

"These aren't deals. Britain didn't get a deal... Every country is getting a 10% tariff, and if you wanna turn up for a photo opportunity, you're allowed to get an asterisk next to that 10%."

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. trump did not disclose his "agreement" or deal because there was no deal. This was an agreement to agree

This "trade deal" was not a real deal but an agreement to agree that was by its own terms non-binding. In my world, this is called a letter of intent and this "trade deal" has the same non-binding language that is in all letters of intent'

Link to tweet