Donald Trump has hinted that South Korea might be at the front of the queue for a new trade deal with the United States, a move that could deliver a significant setback to Sir Keir Starmer's efforts to bolster US-UK ties since his arrival at Number 10.
The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, recently revealed that technical talks with Seoul are set to begin next week, remarking that progress is "moving faster than I thought".
Do you think Keir Starmer should be prioritising a trade deal with America? Have your say in our comments section.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Mr Bessent said: "We had a very successful bilateral meeting with the Republic of South Korea today. We may be moving faster than I thought. The South Koreans came early. They came with their A game and we will see if they follow through on that."
The acceleration of a US-Korea trade deal could come as a blow to the Prime Minister, who has been keen to rejuvenate Britain's lagging attempts to land a post-Brexit deal with Washington.
Although Mr Trump has not ruled out a potential agreement with the UK, there's a growing sense of concern within Westminster circles that Britain might now be lower on the White House's list of priorities, as reported by the Express.
Sir Keir, who has issued a state visit invitation to Mr Trump for later this year, has openly expressed his determination to "committed to strengthening our trade relationship with the United States" and aims to secure "ambitious agreements" across vital industry sectors.
Rising concerns among senior figures hint at trepidation regarding President Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy potentially pushing the UK to the sidelines.
When questioned about potential countries lined up for future discussions, Mr Trump played his cards close to his chest, stating only: "I'd like to meet them all. That would be nice. I'd like to take care of all of them but we have many of them there and they all want to meet."
He confidently continued: "They want to meet about trade. And we are making some great inroads and great deals."
These unfoldings place Sir Keir under increased scrutiny to deliver concrete outcomes in foreign policy and international trade. He has faced criticism that despite abundant talk, his approach to post-Brexit trade has lacked solid action.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Washington attending the IMF Spring Meetings, with objectives including injecting new momentum into negotiations for a UK-US trade agreement.
In the wake of President Trump's move to impose hefty tariffs on UK exports, including a 25% tax on cars, steel, and aluminium, Reeves maintains that there is still "a deal to be done" with Washington. She has categorically stated that there will be no concessions on food standards and online regulation, yet she hasn't entirely dismissed the possibility of mutual tariff reductions on British and American vehicles.
Ahead of their upcoming meeting, Ms Reeves acknowledged a growing understanding of Mr Trump's goals but also issued a clear warning that developed economies "can't afford to be agnostic or naive" when it comes to the tactics used in global trade.
Do you think Keir Starmer should be prioritising a trade deal with America? Have your say in our comments section.
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