Blow for Keir Starmer as Donald Trump says 'baseline' tariffs to stay

Donald Trump has warned he will keep 'substantial' tariffs in place in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer's hopes of eliminating US trade levies.

The US President has imposed sweeping 10 per cent tariffs on all goods imported to America, while he has also slapped 25 per cent charges on aluminium, steel and cars.

The Prime Minister is hoping a US-UK trade deal will reduce or eliminate tariffs on British exports to America.

But Mr Trump signalled he will keep some level of trade levies in place. 'We're taking in a lot of money, which we've never done before,' he said yesterday.

'We're moving along very nicely and we're going to end up with a baseline of a substantial number.'

The US President also warned he is in 'no rush' to sign trade deals with countries looking to reduce tariffs.

This is despite some American officials having recently claimed a US-UK agreement could be signed within three weeks.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will hold talks with the White House next week, while Sir Keir has previously used the offer of a meeting with King Charles to woo Mr Trump.

The US President suggested a date for September is being set for him to meet the King in Britain in what would be an historic second state visit to the UK.

Mr Trump was previously feted on a trip to the UK, hosted by the late Queen in 2019, during his first presidency.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, he said he did not 'know how it can be bigger than the last one' but that 'they say it's going to be even more important'.

Asked whether he would be meeting Charles in September, Mr Trump said: 'I was invited by the King and the country – great country.

'They're going to do a second, as you know, a second fest… that's what it is: a fest, and it's beautiful, and it's the first time it's ever happened to one person.

'And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it's an honour… I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family.

'And I think they're setting a date for September.'

Sir Keir handed Mr Trump what he described as a 'truly historic' personal invitation from the King for a second state visit when he visited the White House in February.

The Telegraph reported that the venue for the September trip is now expected to be Windsor Castle, rather than Balmoral or Dumfries House as previously thought.

Ahead of her meetings in the US next week, Ms Reeves said 'active negotiations' with the Americans are still ongoing as she was quizzed about a possible trade deal.

Asked whether the UK is within three weeks of a deal, as some White House officials claimed, the Chancellor replied: 'Those conversations with our US counterparts are ongoing.

'I will be in Washington next week for the International Monetary Fund annual meetings, their spring meetings.

'I will also be having conversations with the US administration whilst I'm there.

'The key thing for the British Government is always acting in the UK's national interest

'And any deal that's able to be secured will always have front-and-centre British national interest.'