The United Kingdom is pushing for a last-minute deal to soften the impact of US President Donald Trump's global tariffs, set to take effect on April 2. According to British governmental sources cited by Financial Times on Wednesday, bilateral talks on Tuesday were described as "productive" and focused on the UK's digital services tax.
Sources said that Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has instructed officials to continue negotiations over the next 48 hours, aiming to shield the UK from the highest retaliatory tariffs. The discussions involve the tax on companies like Alphabet and Facebook, a key concern for US negotiators. However, the UK Treasury maintains that the £800 million annual levy will remain in place.
"We are working at rapid speed ... There will be some friends of the US who will be in the tent and others who will be outside. Our aim is to be in the tent," a UK official told FT.
