(Reuters) – Britain’s enterprise and commerce secretary Jonathan Reynolds travels to Washington on Tuesday to satisfy his U.S. counterparts within the hope of strengthening financial ties, as President Donald Trump continues to focus on long-standing allies with tariffs.
Reynolds is because of meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer, Britain’s Division of Enterprise and Commerce mentioned.
London mentioned final week it was disillusioned with Trump’s choice to impose tariffs on metal and aluminium imports however didn’t comply with the European Union in retaliating.
Trump on Monday mentioned he had no intention of making exemptions.
Reynolds has beforehand talked of constructive preliminary exchanges with U.S. administration officers. Prime Minister Keir Starmer final month appeared with Trump at a White Home assembly that was cordial in tone – in distinction to different world leaders.
“As we speak’s go to to Washington, D.C. is the most recent step in our pragmatic and constructive engagement with the brand new administration to agree a wider financial deal in each our pursuits,” Reynolds mentioned in an announcement.
“The UK and US share a good and balanced relationship, one which has benefited each side for a lot of many years, and we are going to each profit as we strengthen this relationship additional.”
Imports and exports of products and providers between Britain and the U.S. totalled $317 billion in 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Financial Evaluation mentioned, making Britain the fifth-biggest U.S. commerce accomplice after Canada, Mexico, China and Germany.
The USA is Britain’s single largest nationwide commerce accomplice, though the UK trades much more with the 27 members of the European Union as a bloc.
(Reporting by Andy Bruce, modifying by Ed Osmond)
