There is a “good chance” of the US and UK striking a trade deal because Donald Trump “loves the United Kingdom”, JD Vance has said.
The Vice President said the US is “working very hard” on negotiating a “great” deal with the UK.
It comes after US President Trump announced tariffs on nearly every country earlier this month – including a 10 per cent baseline tariff on the UK.
“We’re certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer’s government” on a trade deal, Vance said in an interview with the website UnHerd on Tuesday.
“The President really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And he’s a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think it’s much deeper than that.
“There’s a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country.
“I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.”
Trump’s mother was from the Isle of Lewis. He owns golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire.
Vance said the “reciprocal relationship” between the US and UK gave Britain a better position than other European countries when it comes to negotiating new trade arrangements.
He added: “While we love the Germans, they are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany.”
The global economy has been rocked by Trump’s sweeping tariffs which were announced on
Labour Business and trade minister Sarah Jones welcomed Vance’s comments but declined to comment on the progress of negotiations.
She told LBC: “The conversations are ongoing, I can’t update more than that.
“We know we’re in a good position.
“We are having good conversations.
“The Secretary of State (Jonathan Reynolds) has been having good conversations with his partners and there is a deal there to be done, but as to when that will be done, I wouldn’t be able to tell you, but it’s positive that the vice president is positive about our negotiations.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will aim to continue negotiations for an economic deal with the US later this month when she travels to Washington to attend the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings with other finance ministers.