Britain was spared the most punitive treatment in Trump’s initial tariff announcement, due to the two sides enjoying a largely balanced trade relationship.
Speaking on RTHK’s Hong Kong Today programme, RTHK’s UK correspondent Peter Anderson said the fact that trade was more balanced between the two countries would help in the UK’s favour.
“His [Vance’s] comments also indicated that he felt it would be easier for the US to sign a trade deal with the UK than it would be to sign one with the European countries. And he used the phrase, ‘a much more reciprocal relationship with the UK.’ And most people perceive that as the fact that it’s quite a balanced relationship.”
But Anderson said the US would still push the UK to make concessions on issues such as technology and food standards, even as it held out the prospect of a trade deal.
“The government here in the UK is seen by the United States as having punitive taxes on tech firms. The so-called digital services tax here in the UK, which has been a problem for companies such as Amazon and Meta,” he said.
“So I think the US will be pushing for a wide range of issues, but I certainly think food standards and technical and science matters will be at the fore of that.”
