Sir Keir Starmer has scrambled together a package of economic concessions as the Prime Minister looks to persuade Donald Trump to spare the UK from his imminent trade war.
Trump is just hours away from introducing his so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs in a move which will leave markets reeling and consumers taking a significant hit.
Despite accepting a far-reaching transatlantic deal will not happen, the Prime Minister is now looking to show the White House that the UK is willing to give up ground.
Downing Street placed future technologies on the table by suggesting the UK could ease or scrap its Digital Services Tax for US tech giants.
Sir Keir Starmer alongside Donald TrumpPANo10 also appeared to concede ground on tariffs currently imposed on American exports of chicken, beef and other meats.
However, the National Farmers' Union is warning Starmer against buckling to Washington on agriculture.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw told The Telegraph: “If we’re giving up access to our market, then it needs to be reciprocal. If it’s a one-way deal, that is something the industry will have a problem with.”
Concessions on agriculture would only add fuel to the farmers' fire, with Rachel Reeves’s inheritance tax raid already sparking widespread protests.
Sir Keir StarmerPARLIAMENT TVDuring Trump’s first stint in the White House, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost progress in UK-US trade talks due to Washington and London failing to come to an agreement on agriculture.
However, concessions could help forge closer trading relations between the UK and US.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “He is always up to take a phone call, always up for a good negotiation, but he is very much focused on fixing the wrongs of the past.
“Our country has been one of the most open economies in the world and we have the consumer base hands down, but too many foreign countries have their markets closed to our exports.
Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs will hit Britain, Downing Street has admitted PA“This is fundamentally unfair. The lack of reciprocity contributes to our large and persistent trade deficit that’s gutted out industries and hollowed out key workforces but those days of America being ripped off are over.”
Israel has already announced it will end tariffs on US imports, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich yesterday signing an order to meet Trump’s demands.
Trump is expected to announce details in a “Make America Wealthy Again Event” in the White House Rose Garden at 9pm tonight.
The 47th President delayed the timing of his planned announcement by an hour to coincide with the close of trading on Wall Street.
