Reynolds and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of the trade agreement between the two countries. In a statement following the meeting, Reynolds said, “Secretary Lutnick, the Prime Minister, and I discussed the implementation of the automotive tariff reduction in particular. I hope to be able to update you all on this matter very soon.”
US Secretary Lutnick, meanwhile, announced on the X platform after the meeting that trade quotas on British automobiles and American beef and ethanol products would be implemented “within a few days.”
Reynolds, speaking optimistically about the tariff reduction process, said, “We are ready to move forward on our side. Once the President and the White House are ready to move forward on their side, implementation will begin.”
British Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson also raised the issue again during his meeting with Donald Trump on Wednesday. Mandelson said, “I conveyed to the President that our markets are ready to accept new US product quotas and that we are eagerly awaiting the swift implementation of the agreement.”
Meanwhile, the UK is working to finalize a £1.6 billion agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The agreement aims to increase trade with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, the agreement has been criticized due to concerns about human rights and modern slavery.
Trade Minister Reynolds noted that the GCC agreement includes sections on environmental and labor standards, but these commitments are not legally binding. Reynolds commented, “The UK needs to trade with countries that are different from us.”
Reynolds also shared a humorous anecdote about his first WhatsApp message to US Trade Secretary Lutnick. Reynolds said that the entire government in Whitehall shaped the content of the message, and that Lutnick called him after receiving the message and said, “I got your message, but I don't know what it means.”
UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced that the US is preparing to reduce tariffs on British cars in the coming days. Following his discussions with his US counterpart, Reynolds stated that tariffs will be reduced “very soon.”
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