Trump: “Very Close to Numerous Deals”; UK Deal Details: Beef, Ethanol, Fast-Track Customs, Economic Security Alignment — “So Good for Both”

President Trump laid out the specifics of the U.S.-UK trade deal and previewed more to come in May 2025. “We’re very close. We have numerous deals,” Trump said. “Howard’s going back as soon as this press conference is over. Scott’s going to Switzerland, meeting with China. They very much want to make a deal.” He detailed the UK agreement: “Billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports — beef, ethanol, agriculture. The UK will reduce or eliminate non-tariff barriers. They’ll fast-track American goods through customs. And in a historic step, the deal includes plans to bring the UK into economic security alignment with the United States.” On Brexit: “A big part of that decision was always that you’d be able to make a deal with the United States. They were never able to — until now."

"Numerous Deals”

Trump was asked how close more deals were.

“Very close,” he said. “We have numerous deals.”

He described the pace: “Howard’s going back. As soon as this press conference is over, he’s got numerous. And Scott’s going to Switzerland, meeting with China.”

He assessed China: “They very much want to make a deal. We can all play games — who made the first call, who didn’t. It doesn’t matter. It only matters what happens in that room.”

He stated the historical context: “Every country throughout the last 40, 50 years has literally ripped off the United States on trade, on military, on protection. We are now making fair deals.”

The simultaneous deployment of Lutnick and Bessent — one to negotiate with multiple countries, the other to Switzerland for China talks — demonstrated the administration’s capacity to conduct parallel negotiations. The UK deal was not a one-off; it was the first of a wave that Trump was describing as “numerous.”

UK Deal Details

Trump provided the most detailed public description of what the agreement contained.

“The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports,” Trump said. “Especially in agriculture — dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers.”

He addressed non-tariff barriers: “The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products.”

He described customs: “They’ll also be fast-tracking American goods through their customs process. Our exports go to a very quick form of approval. There won’t be any red tape.”

He announced industrial access: “We’ll also receive new market access for American chemicals, machinery, and many other industrial products that weren’t allowed.”

He described the reciprocal benefit: “They’ll end up getting products that they’ll be able to price. If they like them better — and we make great products — they’ll be buying those products. But they were not available in the UK.”

He revealed the security component: “In a historic step, the deal includes plans that will bring the United Kingdom into economic security alignment with the United States. That’s the first of its kind.”

He assessed the alliance: “It’s been a great ally, truly one of our great allies. A lot of people say our greatest ally. I don’t want to insult people by saying that, but certainly one of our greatest.”

The “economic security alignment” was the deal’s most consequential provision. It meant the UK would align its economic security policies with the United States — potentially including technology export controls, investment screening, and supply chain security measures. This formalized the UK as America’s closest economic partner, not just its closest military ally.

Brexit Vindicated

Trump connected the deal to Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union.

“You have the European Union, which — I think you made the right decision years ago,” Trump said to the British delegation. “I don’t know if you remember, I was opening up Turnberry the day you were voting.”

He recalled his prediction: “They asked me, would it happen? I said no, I think they’re going to go their own separate way. I think it’s better for them. And they did.”

He stated the deal’s Brexit significance: “A big part of that decision was always that you’d be able to make a deal with the United States. And they were unable to do that.”

He assessed the current moment: “Now they’ve made it. This one just went very smoothly, went quickly. There’s a lot of common sense.”

He projected the impact: “It’s going to make your country much bigger in terms of trade. And it’s going to make our country much bigger in terms of trade too.”

The Brexit connection was historically significant. One of the central arguments for leaving the EU had been that an independent Britain could negotiate bilateral trade deals that the EU’s bureaucracy prevented. The most important potential deal — with the United States — had never materialized under previous administrations. Trump had now delivered what Brexit supporters had always promised: a comprehensive U.S.-UK trade agreement that was impossible while Britain was an EU member.

Key Takeaways

• Trump: “Very close to numerous deals. Howard has several. Scott heads to Switzerland for China. They very much want a deal.”
• UK deal specifics: billions in new market access for American beef, ethanol, chemicals, machinery; elimination of non-tariff barriers; fast-track customs.
• “Historic step”: UK enters economic security alignment with the U.S. — “first of its kind.”
• Brexit vindicated: “A big part of that decision was making a deal with the U.S. They couldn’t before. Now they have.”
• Trump: “So good for both countries. It went very smoothly, very quickly. Common sense.”