91 m. ago How ‘calm, pragmatic, serious’ Starmer hopes to sell frigates to Norway

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox accompanied the prime minister to the defence summit in Norway and saw a prime minister visibly emboldened by his ‘big win’ trade deals with Narendra Modi and Donald Trump

Politics

5 h. ago Backstabbed US auto companies blast Trump’s trade deal with Britain

Trump has put American automakers at a disadvantage with their British competitors, they complain

Politics

18 h. ago John Rentoul answers your questions on Starmer’s trade deals – and their impact UK’s EU bargaining power

In a live Q&A, John Rentoul answered readers’ questions on Starmer’s trade deals, their impact on the UK’s global future, and their potential effect on relations with the EU

Economics

19 h. ago Cometh the hour, cometh the Mandelson: UK ambassador rides crest of a trade deal | Patrick Wintour

The Labour veteran looked an awkward choice for the court of Trump, but now the president is holding his hand and complimenting his beautiful accentPeter Mandelson, with his elegant suits, smooth patter and high-end lifestyle, has always had a dark secret: an interest in the minutiae of trade deals, left over from his period as EU trade commissioner, a period when he could bore for Europe on the virtues of the Mercosur trade deal. Alongside his networking skills, and political antennae, it was his knowledge of trade that possibly persuaded Keir Starmer to take the political risk of appointing him ambassador to Washington.A pro-European social democrat with a full record of insulting remarks about Donald Trump’s racism, Lord Mandelson might not have been the obvious man to open previously closed doors in the US administration. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Labour MPs must realise welfare system ‘needs reform’, says Reeves – UK politics live

Chancellor responds to growing rebellion from more than 40 MPs who have written to the prime ministerMore than 40 Labour MPs have warned the prime minister that planned disability cuts are “impossible to support” and have called for a pause and change in direction.The letter from parliamentarians spanning the new intake and veterans, and from the left and right of the party, sets Keir Starmer up for the biggest rebellion of his premiership when the House of Commons votes on the measures next month.Andrew Bailey has today added his voice to what Liberal Democrats have been saying for years: that we urgently need to rebuild our trading relationship with our closest and most significant economic partners in Europe.This isn’t about revisiting the past, it’s about boosting our economy and deepening cooperation for the future. Despite the government’s US deal, Trump’s trade tariffs are still hitting key British industries and threatening the livelihoods of people across the UK. Continue r...

Politics

25 h. ago US trade deal a ‘political win’ but will do little for UK growth, say experts

Sir Keir Starmer said the trade agreement struck on Thursday is a ‘historic’ deal, but economists played down the benefits for the economy at large.

Politics

26 h. ago US beef could be served in London restaurants 'without diners knowing' under trade deal, warns farming boss

The trade agreement allows for 13,000 tonnes of American beef to be exported to the UK

Events

27 h. ago The phone call from Trump to Starmer that finally led to a trade breakthrough

As his beloved Arsenal suffered defeat, Keir Starmer struck gold with a US-UK trade deal, as Kate Devlin and Millie Cooke report

Politics

28 h. ago Cabinet minister slams as 'complete nonsense' report US will get veto on Chinese investment in UK in trade deal

But the Government faced a row over details of the ‘historic’ agreement which are yet to be finalised

Politics

30 h. ago Everything the UK can now sell and buy from the US after Trump trade deal

The Independent explains what tariffs are still hitting the UK despite trade deal with the US

Economics

31 h. ago Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick gloats about baffling UK trade deal

American consumers are still going to be hit with higher prices from Trump’s 10 percent tariffs on British products

Economics

36 h. ago Trump names Fox News host and former judge Jeanine Pirro as top federal prosecutor in DC – US politics live

Pirro to serve as interim attorney for Washington DC after it became clear Ed Martin would not pass Senate confirmation The winners and losers of Trump’s first tariff war strongly suggest that bankruptcies and farm consolidation could surge during his second term, with major corporations best placed to benefit from his polices at the expense of independent farmers.New analysis by the non-profit research advocacy group Food and Water Watch (FWW), shared exclusively with the Guardian, shows that Trump’s first-term tariffs were particularly devastating for farmers in the Maga rural heartlands. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Trump’s chief trade adviser says Britons will like chlorinated chicken and hormone

Peter Navarro also says UK and US still negotiating over digital services tax – a policy Trump is deeply opposed to The winners and losers of Trump’s first tariff war strongly suggest that bankruptcies and farm consolidation could surge during his second term, with major corporations best placed to benefit from his polices at the expense of independent farmers.New analysis by the non-profit research advocacy group Food and Water Watch (FWW), shared exclusively with the Guardian, shows that Trump’s first-term tariffs were particularly devastating for farmers in the Maga rural heartlands. Continue reading...

Politics

38 h. ago Trump and new German chancellor speak and agree on need to resolve trade disputes – live

Two leaders spoke shortly after Friedrich Merz warned US politicians to ‘stay out of’ Germany’s politics, according to German spokespersonThe winners and losers of Trump’s first tariff war strongly suggest that bankruptcies and farm consolidation could surge during his second term, with major corporations best placed to benefit from his polices at the expense of independent farmers.New analysis by the non-profit research advocacy group Food and Water Watch (FWW), shared exclusively with the Guardian, shows that Trump’s first-term tariffs were particularly devastating for farmers in the Maga rural heartlands. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Trump’s ‘concepts of a plan’ trade deal with the United Kingdom won’t save him

New trade agreement is more of a way for him to save face than an all-encompassing deal, writes Eric Garcia

Politics

40 h. ago Solution to get food and aid to Gaza is ‘steps away’, US state department says – live

Gaza is on the brink of catastrophe after two months of a total blockade by Israel, aid workers say, with many families down to one meal a dayThe winners and losers of Trump’s first tariff war strongly suggest that bankruptcies and farm consolidation could surge during his second term, with major corporations best placed to benefit from his polices at the expense of independent farmers.New analysis by the non-profit research advocacy group Food and Water Watch (FWW), shared exclusively with the Guardian, shows that Trump’s first-term tariffs were particularly devastating for farmers in the Maga rural heartlands. Continue reading...

Society

40 h. ago Flattery gets Starmer somewhere as The Donald stays awake to toot tariff deal | John Crace

Sycophancy stops Trump from dozing off as PM and co hail victory – or at least getting what they could getThree days ago, Donald Trump promised an announcement that would be very possibly the greatest announcement in the whole history of announcements. Come Thursday morning, he said the US and the UK had reached a full and comprehensive trade deal.I guess a lot depends on what you mean by the words “greatest announcement” and “full and comprehensive”. As details of the deal began to emerge, it rather looked as if the UK had managed to negotiate a worse deal with the US than we had even two months ago. One that was hardly transformative. Just reversing some of the damage that had been done to the UK by the US starting a global trade war. Tariffs as a protection racket. Continue reading...

Economics

41 h. ago Trump slashes tariffs for UK cars and steel as Britain opens up its markets to more US beef in trade deal

The US president said it was a 'very big and exciting day' for America and Britain

Economics

42 h. ago UK politics: Tariffs cut on UK cars, steel and aluminium in US trade deal, says Starmer – as it happened

Car exports will face 10% tariffs while levies on steel and aluminium are cut to zeroTrump and Starmer confirm ‘breakthrough’ UK-US trade dealThe Liberal Democrats treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper has reiterated the party’s position that any trade deal with the US should be put to parliament for approval before being ratified, saying Labour “should not be afraid” of a vote if they are confident a deal is in the country’s best interests.Cooper, the MP for St Albans, said in a statement:Parliament must be given a vote on this US trade deal so it can be properly scrutinised.A good trade deal with the US could bring huge benefits, but Liberal Democrats are deeply concerned that it may include measures that threaten our NHS, undermine our farmers or give tax cuts to US tech billionaires.If it’s correct, and you know, whilst we haven’t been named publicly, it does sound like something’s happening, nevertheless, it would be wholly speculative [to comment].As you appreciate and know full ...

Economics

43 h. ago Trump slashes tariffs for UK cars and steel but trade deal row looms on US beef imports to Britain

The US president said it was a 'very big and exciting day' for America and Britain

Economics