US-UK Trade Deal Stalls: Trump Administration Struggles with Tariffs and Bilateral Negotiations in Late 2025

Welcome to the latest episode of United Kingdom Tariff News and Tracker, your source for clear, informed updates on US-UK trade policy under the direction of President Trump in late 2025. The big story right now is the stalled progress of the much-touted US-UK trade deal—a cornerstone of President Trump’s bilateral trade agenda. According to The Times, while the deal was heralded back in May 2025 as a breakthrough, featuring a celebrated phone call between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, negotiations have since bogged down in technical disputes and what some call a “culture clash” between UK and US trade officials. The goal was bold: a significant reduction in US tariffs on British cars, steel, and aluminum. For example, car tariffs would fall from 27.5% to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles, with steel and aluminum tariffs eliminated entirely. But supply chain rules and unresolved exemptions for British-made jet engines have thrown a wrench in the timeline, as The Times reports. British officials have pushed back against US demands to relax UK product standards, fearing damage to domestic industries, and reciprocal issues—like whisky tariffs—have emerged as sticking points. The US trade team, led by Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, reportedly struggles to present a unified strategy. Meanwhile, the bigger picture in American trade policy, as highlighted by The Times, is a shift toward US-centered bilateral deals—away from the multilateral approach of previous administrations. The US has also imposed new tariffs ranging from 10% to 41% on a wide range of imports from 69 trading partners, reflecting President Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” doctrine aimed at protecting American interests. This broader protectionist sweep, enforced since August, has reshaped supply chains and market relationships worldwide, with knock-on effects for growth and inflation, as VoxEU recently analyzed. In parallel, the US is negotiating with China and ASEAN nations, but the UK remains a key partner in President Trump’s global vision—if a deal can be finalized. British negotiators have emphasized the importance of true reciprocity, notably in expanded US ethanol imports and greater American pharmaceutical access to the NHS. However, as of late October, final texts remain elusive and the future of the agreement hangs in the balance. Listeners, for those tracking US-UK trade, these tariffs and tensions are more than headlines—they are real forces shaping jobs, prices, and business strategies on both sides of the Atlantic. If you want to stay ahead, keep tuning in. Thank you for joining this edition of United Kingdom Tariff News and Tracker. If you found this update helpful, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/ Avoid ths tariff fee's and check out these deals https://am This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.