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One World with Zain Asher
CNN International: Trump Announces U.S.-UK Trade Deal; Trump: China Very Much Wants To Make A Deal. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 08, 2025 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
VOICE OF KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Donald, thank you so much. It's really good to have got this deal over the line. Tribute to both
teams. Tributes to our countries, and tribute to your leadership.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Thank you. Well, it really is a great thing, and you go do your press conference, and I'll see
you soon. Maybe speak to you later. But, thank you --
VOICE OF STARMER: Yeah.
TRUMP: -- very much. An incredible thing. I can't tell you that for so many years, even as I sat, everybody talked and talked and talked about a deal
with -- it just seemed like a natural deal, but it was not done, but now it was done with us. So, I feel very proud to have been a part of it. Keir,
thank you very much.
VOICE OF STARMER: Thanks, Donald. I will speak again too.
TRUMP: Very good. Bye.
Why don't I do this? Why don't I have our Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, give a little description of the deal pretty quick. And then the
good side, the very nice side, we'll be speaking about it also, maybe, from -- so, you get a pretty equal -- I think it's a very -- it's just been a
deal that was, we thought, very complicated. It became very simple. It's opening up the country that we really didn't have the kind of access to
that I would have thought. I was surprised. I think it's why the deal never got done before. It was -- they've been working on this deal for 25 years,
and we got it done and we got it done. Really, it's going to be great for both countries.
So, Sarah (ph), if you could go and then somebody else -- you may have -- you'll picture whoever you want. Who'd like to do? I have a feeling you're
going to do it, right? So, you guys go ahead, and then we'll take questions right after that. But, I think you'll get a pretty good understanding of
how big it is. It's a very large deal, very big deal. And Howard, go ahead.
HOWARD LUTNICK, U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY: So, the UK is the sixth largest economy in the world, and the fourth largest that we export to, right? So,
it's a huge market, a top 10 market. If you remember, Liberation Day, they were at 10 percent because we have balanced trade with the UK, right? They
say they have a surplus, but of course, that counts gold bullion, which is -- so, let's just call it balanced trade. So, how do you open up a market
in balanced trade? People think it's impossible. They've always thought it was impossible, until President Trump came on the scene and changed the way
things work.
So, here is what we've got. We've opened up new market access, ethanol, beef, machinery, all the agricultural products. They've agreed to open
their markets, and that will add $5 billion of opportunity to American exporters. So, the question is, why would they do that now? Because they've
never done it before, and we still have a 10 percent tariff on which will produce $6 billion of revenue for the United States. So, the idea was, how
did they keep their jobs, protect their economy, and do the best for their people while opening the market for us? And the ways they studied it, their
team was exceptional, and they tried to figure out the markets that they're importing from other people and try to send them over to America.
So, why were they always favoring others and not us? And what they've done is they found the ways to do that so that we have new access, right? But,
the UK workers are protected, and that was the balance. So, you've got -- we did a deal with them in automobiles. And you know, if you're not
building here, we charge you a 25 percent tariff, but the President, and by the way, I want to make this clear, while Jamieson and I worked hard, this
was the President's deal, and people think, Oh, that's not the way it works. If you got to sit next to him, I have the best deal maker to my
left, and if you don't think that we take advantage of him, calling the Prime Minister, getting that deal done, you don't understand who is the
President of the United States.
So, he is the closer. He gets deals done that we could never get done, because he understands business, he understands deals, and that's why we're
here today. So, he agreed they could send 100,000 cars into America and only pay a 10 percent tariff, and that protects their car industry. And
remember, we do 16 million cars a year. So, this is only like 0.6 percent. But, for the UK auto people, this is tens of thousands of jobs that the
President agreed that he would protect for them. So, he made that deal, right?
Then steel and aluminum, right? Their steel business has been destroyed, like everybody else has been destroyed by people dumping steel into their
markets. And British Steel had announced it was closing down. So, the British government, as part of this deal, nationalized British Steel, and
they're going to match the kinds of models we do. They'll put tariffs on. They'll put quotas on. They want to do it with America so they can be part
of the resurgence of steel and aluminum in America, and that saves them, again, thousands and thousands of jobs. So, if you go step by step, aero
and commercial planes.
[11:05:00]
They sell Rolls Royce engines to Boeing. We've agreed to let Rolls Royce engines and those kind of plane parts to come over tariff free. And what
you're going to hear today is there is going to be an announcement that the UK that they are buying $10 billion worth of Boeing planes later today, but
I'm going to let the name of the airline announce it, because that's theirs to do it.
Part of this deal was always to do it together and to do it strong, and you can see the numbers on this board. Everything about this board works
exceptionally well for the United States of America. It lays out the plan that you can work with us in autos. You can work with us with aero and
commercial. You can work with us in pharmaceuticals if you have a supply chain that is secure and protected in national security.
So, we feel really good about the deal. You've heard the Prime Minister. He feels really good about the deal, right? And we started at 10 percent and
we ended at 10 percent, and the market for America is better. And this is a perfect example of why Donald Trump produced Liberation Day. People don't
understand, he gets things done in a matter of time. This would have taken Jamieson and I three years, maybe, and instead, we got it done in 45 days,
certainly, because we work for Donald Trump. So, Jamieson, my partner in all this, maybe Jamieson, you'd like to talk a little and then we'll turn
it over to UK.
JAMIESON GREER, U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: Sure and happy to do that. Everyone had great remarks. I just have to echo the President and the Prime
Minister, and we talk about VE Day. This is something we've been waiting for, for decades, and there is no more appropriate day to do this. And when
we step back and we look back a few weeks from now, or months from now, or years from now, I want to look back at this day, and better appreciate the
significance, I think.
And I'll just say as well in terms of negotiating. I mean, UK negotiators, we've got one right here, did an incredible job, right? This is why you've
been wars, right, when you act like this, and the ambassador, he knows more about trade than a lot of us here, based on his background. And I would say
on this deal, Mr. President, what we've shown is that it is time to change the way we do trade. People said we couldn't do a global tariff. We did a
global tariff. They said no one would want to deal with us. People want to deal. They said no one give offers. You saw that stack of offers I showed
you yesterday. All those countries said we wouldn't get deals, and here we are with the deal with the sixth largest economy. We've agreed to have fair
and reciprocal trade, and we've done it in record time.
TRUMP: Thank you very much.
GREER: Thank you, sir.
TRUMP: Great job.
GREER: Thank you, sir.
TRUMP: Mr. Ambassador, please.
PETER MANDELSON, UK AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Well, Mr. President, thank you very much indeed in hosting us this morning, and thank you very much indeed
also for that very typical 11th-hour intervention by you with your phone call to the President, demanding even more out of this deal than any of us
expected. So, thank you for that. The Prime Minister was delighted, obviously, to take that call late at night, but you took it to another
level.
And I think the point I would make is twofold. One is that if we're going to rebalance and rebuild international trade in a way that serves all our
interests, then we're better doing that together than separately and apart, and that's what we're on a mission to do. But, secondly, you've done what
you said you would do. You said to the Prime Minister, when he came and we visited in the Oval, that you would do a good trade deal with the United
Kingdom, that you would do it at pace, and that we would be first, and you have delivered that. You've been true to your words. So, thank you very
much indeed for that.
For us, it's not the end. It's the sort of -- it's the end just of the beginning. I mean, there is yet more we can do in reducing tariffs and
trade barriers so as to open up our markets to each other, even more than we are agreeing to do today. But, it also provides us with the platform,
the springboard, to do what I think will be even more valuable for both our countries in the future, and that's creating a technology partnership
between the United States and the United Kingdom so that we can harness science and technology in order to create future industries and future
jobs, and to do that together in the way we work so closely already in the national security and defense area, we can just take that to yet further
areas of science, enterprise and endeavor. So, we are looking forward to doing that in the coming months.
You have launched us extremely well today.
[11:10:00]
It just, in my view, as the Prime Minister has said, just shows what two countries who trust each other, who are confident in each other and are
familiar with each other, can do, not just for ourselves, but for those in the rest of the world who need to benefit from a bigger and better
international trading system.
TRUMP: Thank you very much. It was beautifully stated. What a beautiful accent. I'd like to add that, actually. Thank you.
MANDELSON: My mother would be proud.
TRUMP: Thank you very much. Any questions?
JAMES MATTHEWS, U.S. CORRESPONDENT, SKY NEWS: James Matthews from Sky News.
TRUMP: Yes.
MATTHEWS: Can I ask? Why Britain and why now? And you've described this deal as a full and comprehensive deal, and yet, we heard from Mr.
Mandelson, who said it's the end of the beginning. Clearly, there is much more work still to do.
TRUMP: Yeah.
MATTHEWS: With respect, are you overstating the reach and significance of this deal? Because you're a President who needs a result at a difficult
time.
TRUMP: I think that it's a great deal for both parties. It's for us. We're opened up. I didn't know how closed it was, quite close, the market, as you
know, the UK, and it opens up a tremendous market for us, and it works out very well, very well. And a lot of assets, you see the chart, and those are
tremendous assets, but we've been trying, and when you say, why us, meaning your country, we've been trying for years, and they've been trying for
years to make a deal, including when I was in the first term. It would always be people talking, but they weren't getting it done.
But, for 25 years before that, they were trying always to make a deal, a very significant deal. I actually, until I looked at the numbers, I didn't
realize this is a very conclusive deal. But, we think we can grow it even from that. But, this is a maxed out deal, not like you said it. You said it
really incorrectly. This is a maxed out deal that we're going to make bigger, and we make it bigger through growth. But, we have tremendous
assets involved. I was surprised to see how big your country is, and actually one of the biggest in technology and so many other things. It's
agriculture. I really didn't know. It's -- depending on your definition, it's from four to five to six. It's -- that's pretty big in the world. So,
I was very impressed by that.
But, we're going to take it to new levels. It's a very big deal right now, but I think it is going to grow. Just of its own volition, it's going to
grow. And over time, there'll be changes made. There'll be adjustments made because we're flexible. We'll see things that we can do even better, but
it's very conclusive, and we think everyone is going to be happy, and the people of your country are going to be very impressed with the result, and
they'll be able to buy for more people. They'll be able to price things differently. They'll be able to get some products that aren't available to
them now that we make better than anybody in the world.
And it's just something that -- it's a great thing that it came together. It's so nice because we have many countries who want to make a deal, and
many countries are very unhappy that we happen to choose this one, to be honest with you. But, long time, our oldest ally, or just about, guess, a
couple of people claim that too. But, let's put it right at the top. I think it's going to be something very special for UK and special for the
United States.
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN REESE, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, THE DAILY CALLER: Thank you, Mr. President. Reagan Reese with The Daily Caller. How close are you to more
deals, and when do you expect the next to be announced?
TRUMP: Well, very close. We have numerous deals. I know Howard is going back as soon as this is finished, your press conference. He has got
numerous. And Scott, who is right over here, who is fantastic, by the way. You were great on television this morning. I watched it. You gave them a
little lesson in the world and economics. But, Scott is going to be going to Switzerland, meeting with China, and they very much want to make a deal.
We can all play games. Who made the first call? Who didn't make them? It doesn't matter. It only matters what happens in that room.
But, I will tell you that China very much wants to make a deal. We'll see how that works out. Every country throughout the last 40, 50 years has
literally ripped off the United States on trade, on military and protection, on all the different things, and we are now making fair deals.
And in this case, it's great because we really weren't very much involved. You have the European Union, which is -- I think you made the right
decision years ago. I don't know if you remember. I was opening up Turnberry the day that you were voting, and they asked me, would it happen
or would it not happen? I said, no, I think they're going to go their own separate way. I think it's better for them. And they did. I think it's
going to end up being a very smart decision.
But, a big part of that decision was always that you'd be able to make a deal with the United States, and they were unable to do that.
[11:15:00]
But now they made it, and it's a tremendous -- it's very important. That was always a big part of your decision on Brexit. And they were never able
to make that deal. It was a tough one. And this one was -- it's amazing with time, this one just went very smoothly, went quickly and smoothly, and
a lot of common sense, as I like to say. There is tremendous common sense, but it's going to make your country much bigger in terms of trade, and it's
going to make our country much bigger in terms of trade too. Yes, sir.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for the --
TRUMP: The one behind you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh yeah.
TOM BATEMAN, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT, BBC NEWS: Tom Bateman at the BBC. Thank you, Mr. President. You mentioned me.
TRUMP: You who?
BATEMAN: The BBC.
TRUMP: Oh, good. All right.
BATEMAN: You mentioned meat and beef exports. The UK currently doesn't accept American beef because of its own food standards. Are you calling on
the UK to accept all American beef and chicken products?
TRUMP: Well, I think they'll take what they want. We have plenty of it. We have every type. We have every classification you can have. As you know,
Bobby Kennedy is doing a tremendous job, and he is, I think, probably heading toward your system with no chemical, no this, no that. And I think
we're heading that way, it seems to be. And -- but we have that also. So, we have -- we're a very big country. We have a lot of beef. We're a very
big country.
BROOKE ROLLINS, U.S. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: Sir, may I?
TRUMP: So, it'll be great. Yes. Yes.
ROLLINS: You want me to jump?
TRUMP: Yes.
ROLLINS: Let's talk about American beef really quickly, and it can't be understated, I'm Brooke Rollins, by the way, how important this deal is and
what this means to American farmers and ranchers. Specific to the beef, this is going to exponentially increase our beef exports. And to be very
clear, American beef is the safest, the best quality, and the crown jewel of American agriculture for the world. So, I think a really important part
of this deal isn't just the ethanol, reducing of tariffs from 19 percent to zero percent, which for our row croppers is a huge deal, but also for beef.
And as we move forward, I know our incredible trade team is looking at all the meats, all of the produce, really, all of our agriculture exports. And
I don't know if there is an industry that has been treated more unfairly and has suffered more than our agriculture industry. So, we look forward to
it. I'll be in the UK on Monday, talking to my counterpart over there for the next, really, for next week, and look forward to moving that out across
the country. The President is incredible --
TRUMP: I think we can say that. We have the best in the world, best tractors, the best everything in the world. And they say that our
agriculture is second to none, you understand, and it'll be a great asset. People are going to be able to have options, choice, and they'll have more
of it, and that usually means lower prices. How about -- well, do you and then you? Go ahead.
DANIELE COMPATANGELO, CORRESPONDENT, ITALIAN TV, LA7, AND PRIME-TIME MEDIA: It's a tough question. For the Italian TV, Daniele Compatangelo, LA7,
Prime-Time Media. So, congratulations for the deal. We'll see a big revenues from the chart. But, what's the rest of Europe? There is -- it's a
Victory Day, but other European country seems like losing their track.
TRUMP: We intend to make a deal with Europe. We have found that the European Union treated us extremely unfairly, very difficult, and hurt
themselves in doing so, and they very much want to make a deal. We'll be dealing with them. We are dealing with them currently. So, that will cover
pretty much the rest of it.
But, this was separate, because of Brexit, in particular, this was a separate deal. It always seems so natural. I mean, all the media would say
that this seemed to be like, why did this happen in 25 years? Why did it happen a long time ago? And it was always amazing to me. Somebody would
say, hey, we got to make a deal. We have to make a deal. But, this deal just fell into place. The Prime Minister did a fantastic job. His
representatives are total professionals, and they got along well, and it just seemed to work.
And I think one of the reasons it did is because we blew up the whole system, if we would have just been dealing with you separately, or country
by country, we blew up the whole system was. It very fair to the United -- very unfair to the United States. And I think because of that, this worked
out so nicely, and I'm honored that it was the first deal.
Please.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, you mentioned --
TRUMP: Well, why don't you go in the back? Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, thanks, sir. It's -- I'm with the London Times. I will say this is a great day for James Bond, because now Aston Martins will
be available to America.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- even better by extending it to film. You've talked about a big tariff on films and we'd like to know if we have relief on.
TRUMP: Well, we're going to have a discussion on that separately. And as you know, we're putting tariffs on that particular film, he said, the movie
makers, and we're going to be doing some tariffs to get them, because a lot of them have left this country. They all live here. The money comes from
here. Everything comes from here, but they make them in other countries. So, we're going to do something to bring them back, maybe to a large
extent.
[11:20:00]
But, James Bond has nothing to worry about that. I can tell you, James Bond. And Sean Connery was a friend of mine. Sean Connery was responsible
for my getting zoning in Aberdeen. He said, let the bloody bloke build his golf courses. I was like four years into the process, and it was impossible
in Aberdeen. And he -- I don't know. He just stood up one day and he said that. As soon as he said that, I got the approvals in about two minutes. He
was a great guy, Sean Connery, and great character.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) later in the year.
TRUMP: Say it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible)
TRUMP: Yeah. I will be. Sure. It's great. We have a lot of investment over there. We have Turnberry, Aberdeen, we have, as you know, and Dune bag in
Ireland, right on the ocean. They're all on the ocean. I only have interests if they're on the ocean. And we have good investments over there.
Beautiful. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, if the talks go well this weekend, between Secretary Bessent and Ambassador Greer and Chinese counterparts,
not preemptively, but if the talks go well, would you then consider lowering the tariff rate on China?
TRUMP: Well, it could be. I mean, we're going to see. Right now, you can't get any higher. It's at 145 percent. So, we know it's coming down. I think
we're going to have a very good relationship. I always got along very well with President Xi. That relationship was greatly disturbed by COVID, when
COVID came in, but we get along very well now. I mean, we had a -- I mean, the relationship was hurt with a lot of people, a lot of countries, when
COVID came in. But, I think we're going to --
ZAIN ASHER, HOST, "ONE WORLD": All right. You've just been listening to Donald Trump speaking in the Oval Office about the U.S.-UK trade deal.
Let's listen to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the West Midlands, who is speaking now.
STARMER: This is where we've got to, and all of these tariff cuts will come into place as soon as possible, and that's really important as well, in
relation to the work that you're doing and the brilliant cars that you make.
And as Adrian (ph) has said, I was here with you, just, as I say, a few weeks ago, and I promised you that I would deliver in the national
interest. And today, I'm really pleased to come back here to be able to look you in your eye and to say I've delivered on the promise I made to
you. And that's why, as soon as I knew this deal was coming in today, I said I want to come back to JLR to talk to the workforce there for whom
this means so much. Now, of course, we are the first country to secure such a deal with the United States.
And in an era of global insecurity and instability, that is so important. The great challenge of our age is to secure and to renew Britain, and that
is what we're going to do, acting in the national interest, shaping this new era, not being shaped by it. If it's not good for Britain, we won't do
it. If it does not mean more money in people's pockets, we won't do it. If it does not mean security and renewal in every part of the country, we
won't do it. But, that does not mean we are turning inward. Instead, we are sending a message to the world that Britain is open for business, seeking
trade agreements with India on Tuesday, with the U.S. today, and working to boost trade with other partners too, including, of course, the EU, with
whom we have a really important meeting just a week on Monday, making deals that will benefit working people.
And in recent years, an idea has taken hold that you somehow show your strength by rejecting your allies, that you shut the door, put the phone
down, storm off. I've had plenty of people urging me to do that, rather than stay in the room and fight for the interests of our country, and I
want to be absolutely crystal clear, that is not how this government operates. It's never how we will operate. We don't storm off. We stay in
the room, and we negotiate and we work for our country with a national interest at the foremost of our mind, because the other way of working
doesn't deliver the benefits that working people need.
So, I also want to be clear, this is just the start. With the deal we've done today, we can say jobs saved, jobs won, not job done, because we're
more ambitious for what the UK and the U.S. can do together. So, we're hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United
States across the board. We have 1.5 trillion pounds invested in each other's economies, creating 2.5 million jobs across both countries, and
there are so many areas where I think we can do even more than that, and put pounds in the pockets of working people across the United Kingdom. As
the two biggest services exporters in the world, we will bring down barriers creating jobs in our thriving sectors in Leeds, in Manchester,
London, Birmingham.
[11:25:00]
As the only two Western nations with trillion dollar tech sectors, we will go further to deepen the partnership in new technologies, to show the
innovations of the next century together and create the jobs of the future, because look, our history shows what we can achieve when we work together
and what timing for this deal that we've agreed this deal on VE Day. 80 years ago today, Churchill was addressing the nation at the end of the
Second World War victory in Europe, and we were standing, the United Kingdom with the United States, on defense and security, and for 80 years,
we've been the closest of partners, and today we've added to that trade and the economy in the special relationship between us, defined by peace and
economic prosperity. So, it's fitting today that we renew the bond on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
I'm going to take some questions in a minute. Then I do want to spend some time with you, because I know how important this is for you all, and all of
your work colleagues here, all of your families, who I know will have been worried about what is going to happen. Of course, they're worried. They're
proud of what you do, worried about what might have happened, but not just you and your families, but your communities and all the other jobs that
depend on the work that you do here. You're iconic. We're proud of what you do.
And when I promised you we would do whatever we needed to do to get to a position where we could ensure that your brilliant work continues and
thrives in the future, I meant that. It was a promise made and a promise I always intended to deliver to you, and I'm trying to catch everybody's
eyes, because, as I say, in politics, what matters is, who are you thinking about? Who have you got in your mind's eye when you're having those
conversations, whether it's President Trump just now or last night halfway through the Arsenal game, or whether it's the teams negotiating as they've
been over weeks and days, particularly intensely in current days?
So, thank you here for being with me today. I will try to talk to you some more in a minute, but please, through you, if I could extend that to all of
your colleagues here, I know they'll be on different shifts, but I hope this will give them the well-earned boost that they absolutely deserve. I
will now take questions from the media. I've got a list here. I think, Chris, I've got you first.
CHRIS MASON, POLITICAL EDITOR, BBC NEWS: Thank you, Prime Minister. Chris Mason, BBC News. Prime Minister, this is a --
STARMER: Can you just a little bit louder?
MASON: Yeah. Sure.
STARMER: I'm so sorry.
MASON: Prime Minister, this is a freeing up of trade conditions with America compared with where we were. But, is it better than, say, six
months ago, given, for instance, some tariffs are still there?
STARMER: Well, Chris, the question you should be asking, is it better than where we were yesterday? And I think if you -- you should come out when you
finished asking me questions and talk to the workforce here, because what this does is to reduce to zero the tariffs on steel and aluminum. Look how
important that is. Reduces massively from 27.5 percent to 10 percent the tariffs on the cars that we export, so important to JLR, actually to the
sector generally, but JLR in particular, who sell so many cars into the American market, proudly do that.
And of course, it also includes on pharmaceuticals some really important measures. Obviously, we don't have tariffs yet, but we've got within the
deal significantly preferential treatment whatever happens in the future. So, this is hugely important for our pharmaceutical sector as well. On the
-- in addition to that, we said we had red lines on standards, particularly in agriculture. We've kept to those standards. The SPS red line is a red
line that's written into the agreement.
And so, I think if you put that package together, you can see that it's a significant step in the right direction for our country and our national
interest, and for the very many thousands of jobs that will now be protected, saved and enhanced by the fact that we've done this deal, and
I'm really proud we have. And I know people along the way were urging me to walk away, to descend in a different kind of relationship. We didn't. We
did the hard yards. We stayed in the room. And I'm really pleased to say to the workforce here and through them to the country, how important I think
this deal is. Thank you, Chris. Robert, I'm coming to you next.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Prime Minister, all the polling shows that the British people think an improved trade deal with the European Union is more
important than a U.S. trade deal. The British people are right. Aren't they?
STARMER: Well, Robert, you're -- already minutes after this deal with the U.S., still pushing me back to, shouldn't we choose between the U.S. and
the EU?
[11:30:00]
No is the answer to that question. I genuinely believe that we can have a good relationship and agreement with the U.S. and a good relationship and a
good agreement with the EU. That's why the red lines have been really important in the way that we've negotiated this. But, look what we've shown
this week, that through patience, through pragmatism, through putting, not doing politics as performance, but doing politics as the serious art of
negotiation, we got a deal 48 hours ago in India, which, of course, also deals with car manufacturing, by the way. So, there is discussion to be had
there. We've got the deal now with the U.S. We go on, on Monday week to the EU-UK Summit.
But, I always said that the strength of the UK is being able to deal both with the U.S. and the EU on security and defense and on trade and the
economy, and that's the basis on which we've moved forward. And I think the workforce here would say to you in very loud terms, thank goodness, you
didn't take the advice of others to walk away from the negotiations with the U.S., because it would be they that would pay the price if we had done
that, and I wasn't prepared to let that happen. Thank you, Robert.
Beth, Sky News.
BETH RIGBY, POLITICAL EDITOR, SKY NEWS: Thank you, Prime Minister. Beth Rigby, Sky News. Back in February, when you did a press conference with
Donald Trump in the White House, he said, we could end up with a real trade deal where tariffs wouldn't be necessary. We'll see. That -- those were
Donald Trump's words, and you've come out and yes, you have a concession on cars, you have a flat tariff still of 10 percent. Are you disappointed with
that? Is this just the start? And to those voters last week in the local elections that gave you the worst ever vote share you've had in a set of
elections as a Labor Party, what's your message to them? Thank you.
STARMER: Well, my message to them is that we absolutely get the message that they sent last Thursday. We will remain focused as ever on the
national interest. And I have them in mind. I have the workforce here in mind when we make the decisions that we make. I don't make them for my
sake. I make them on behalf of working people across this country.
And in relation to this deal, yes, we would like to go further in relation to tariffs, but I think it's really important that we've been able to get
this deal over the line now, because, in that way, we've been able to protect and save and enhance jobs right here, right now, and that reduction
from 27.5 percent down to 10 percent makes a huge difference to firms like JLR and the decisions they have to make about the future, decisions that I
want them to make about the future.
Steel and aluminum obviously been in the news hugely in recent weeks. To get that down to naught percent as well is hugely important.
Pharmaceuticals is one of the most important sectors in our economy, and therefore there is nothing to get down at the moment because there isn't a
tariff, but if there should be to already have got into a position of significantly preferential outcomes, will I know be a welcome relief to
them.
So, I measure this by the reactions of those that are most affected by the tariffs, which is the workforce here, those in pharmaceuticals, those that
are working in steel and aluminum. But, look, there is a huge ambition here. There is a lot in the deal about tech. We are two of the leading
economies on tech. There is a huge amount we can do on tech as well. So, we want to go further. We want to go further in those areas and on tariffs,
keeping our red lines absolutely in place on SPS and on food standards and agricultural standards, because that matters so much to us here in Britain.
Thank you, Beth.
Paul.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Prime Minister, the business needs certainty. President Trump is no stranger to changing his mind on a whim. What assurances can
you give business, give the workers here that despite what you've agreed today, we're not all going to wake up to a post tomorrow that effectively
rips all that?
STARMER: Well, we've been negotiating this text for a long time. I had discussions with Donald Trump along the way, including discussions last
night. We are clearly in agreement. There is a written text. This is reduced to writing that text will be available. So, this is an agreement
that is absolutely clear.
[11:35:00]
We've worked well together. We respect each other, the President and I, and we trust each other, and have trusted each other through this process. Each
of us mandating our negotiating teams to get the best deal for our respective countries. Both teams have fought hard in tough negotiations,
and we've arrived at an agreement that I went through with the President last night, and we've just agreed moments ago here at JLR. So, clear
agreement in terms, and these tariff reductions to come in in very short order make a material difference to lives of very many people across the
country. Thank you very much.
I've got Noa. Noa.
NOA HOFFMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, THE SUN: Noa from The Sun. Hi, Prime Minister. I was wondering if you could please spell out for us what your
strategy is going to be to get those 10 percent tariffs down to zero percent. I know you're talking a lot about today being job saved, not a job
done, but a lot of people will be thinking, 10 percent still isn't good enough. We're worse off than a year ago. How are you going to approach
negotiations going forward, and how long will it take until we get to zero percent?
STARMER: I will approach the negotiations in the same way I have approached the negotiations with India and with President Trump to get to today's
deal. With India, I met Prime Minister Modi at the G20 in Brazil. We agreed that we would get our teams to work together at pace in a courteous,
respectful business-like way. With President Trump, we've operated in the same way, not walking out the room, not slamming doors, but staying in the
room negotiating, the same with the EU, respectfully negotiating in relation to the summit that we'll have a week on Monday. So, we'll do it in
exactly the same way.
But, please do not underestimate the significance of the tariff reductions today, because these are measured in thousands of good, well-paid jobs
across the country, and that really matters. That's at the heart of everything that I believe in. And I believe that serious, pragmatic, in the
room negotiations, acting in the national interest, are far better than performative politics, people slamming the door, floundering out, being
performative, but not actually delivering for working people. And I'll continue in the same vein. We've had two trade deals this week by acting in
that way. And I think that shows that serious pragmatism defeats performative politics any day of the week. Thank you. Mikey from The
Mirror.
MIKEY SMITH, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR, THE MIRROR: You mentioned tech a couple of times. J.D. Vance has, on a number of occasions, said that one of
his red lines is concessions on our anti-hate speech laws. How have you managed --
STARMER: Sorry.
SMITH: Anti-hate speech laws. How have you managed to talk him around on that? And very quickly, if I may, I think you'll admit that this wasn't
what you were expecting to do today. Donald Trump has been struggling to land his arguments on tariffs. Have we been bounced into this by a
President that needs help out of the hole?
STARMER: Well, look, I mean in terms of free speech, I've been really clear throughout, we've had free speech in this country for a very, very long
time. It's one of our foundational principles on which we're all very, very proud, and that will long, long be the case. There is nothing in this deal
that impinges on that in any way whatsoever.
In relation to the timing of this, no, not at all. Our teams have been hard at work for weeks on end. I'd wanted to get a deal over the line. I make no
-- I'm not ashamed of that. I wanted because I knew how important it was, particularly for JLR, that we got a deal, that we got it over the line, and
we got it over the line in a timely manner. The last thing I wanted to do was deliver a deal that didn't come in time for those that desperately need
it.
So, no, I didn't know the exact day. I wouldn't have been having my phone call with President Trump halfway through the second half of the Arsenal-
PSG game had I planned it better. But, that's the way it turned out. That's the discussion we were having late last night about how we proceeded with
this deal. And I'm really pleased to be able to come here today, and actually to be able to do it on VE Day is really significant, because, of
course, the U.S. was standing there as our ally 80 years ago today. So, today is an opportunity to reflect on the fact that today we stand together
as allies on security and defense. Of course, there are no two countries that are closer on security and defense, but now we add trade and the
economy to those issues where we're the closest of allies, and I'm really pleased about that.
And then, Hugo. Hugo.
HUGO GYE, POLITICAL EDITOR, THE I PAPER: Thank you, Prime Minister. Hugo Gye from The i Paper.
[11:40:00]
Just the other day, President Trump threatened to put tariffs on the film industry. Obviously, Britain has a huge film sector. Have you asked him to
take that threat off the table? What did he say? And if he hasn't taken that off the table, how are you going to stop that becoming a reality?
STARMER: Well, obviously, there aren't any tariffs in place on film at the moment, and of course, we're discussing it with the President's team. We'll
take the same approach as we've taken on other issues, whether it is tariffs imposed, which we've been able to reduce, or potential tariffs in
areas like pharmaceuticals or film. We will take the same approach, because, for me, what matters is acting in the national interest and making
sure that everything that we do is good for working people in this country, and whether it comes to -- whether it's still an aluminum, whether it's car
building, whether it's pharmaceuticals or film, we are brilliant at these things, and therefore I will act in the national interest and have those
discussions on film, as we've done on other issues with the President.
Thank you all very much indeed. Thank you. And I will now talk to some of the workforce, if I may.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you?
ZAIN ASHER, HOST, "ONE WORLD": All right. You've just been listening to a live press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking at
a JLR, Jaguar Land Rover, facility in the West Midlands, and one of the reasons why he spoke at this particular facility, in terms of just the
aftermath of announcing this historic U.S.-UK trade deal, is because the auto sector in the West Midlands is really crucial to that part of the
country's economy, and had the 25 percent proposed tariffs really gone into effect, it would have been devastating for jobs there.
But, this is historic, and by the way, a much needed political win for Keir Starmer, coming just a couple of days after the UK announced a historic
trade deal with India as well. Also worth noting that he was very much in need of a major political victory, because there were local elections last
week in the UK, where Labor really had a disappointing showing. And so, he was in desperate need of a major political victory, and I think that's what
he is doing here, really touting this as a major win, because the UK is, of course, the first country to strike a trade deal with the U.S. in the
aftermath, of course, Liberation Day. Yeah. So much.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, HOST, "ONE WORLD": Yes. And as the Prime Minister noted, this coming on a historic day as well, 80 years to the day of Churchill
announcing victory for the allies in Europe, and is notable the backdrops between both this press conference that Keir Starmer held in the UK and
President Trump's press conference, that I believe is still ongoing from the Oval Office, because they are selling this to the public in very
different manners. As you noted, this is Keir Starmer saying this was better than the alternative.
ASHER: Right.
GOLODRYGA: Don't judge me by where we were six months from now. Judge by where we were yesterday. We have a deal on the table. He is selling it to
those workers, you just said, are very critical and concerned --
ASHER: Absolutely.
GOLODRYGA: -- about what this means for them.
The details, as with so many of these types of deals, are not yet fully concrete. The President himself saying that more details will be coming in
the coming weeks. This is just the framework of what is the first trade deal of President Trump's second term now, fitting to perhaps have it with
the special relationship that the U.S. has with the UK.
I do want to go to Alayna Treene at the White House. The President I see here, Alayna, is still speaking, again the President touting this is a deal
that would give greater access to U.S. goods, especially agricultural products, ethanol as well, and bringing these two countries closer. We
should note, the UK is the United States' eighth largest trading partner, and something else that the Commerce Secretary seemed to just touch on
briefly, noting that the U.S. actually has a trade surplus with the United Kingdom, notwithstanding, the President really did need a win, needed a
deal on the table, a very recognizable country at that. So, they are declaring victory, Alayna.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: They are, and look, this has been something that for several weeks now. I mean, they have been fielding --
feeling the pressure mount to announce any sort of good news to the American public, as it relates to these trade deals, to show that they were
making progress, and we saw some of that today. Now, of course, this deal or frame is really a framework. It's limited in scope. Both the President
as well as the UK Prime Minister said that some of the specifics are going to be hammered out, and that's going to continue, and expand at a later
date.
But, again, they wanted to get on the board quickly and show that they had made some real progress with, of course, a country that is one of the
United States' strongest allies. I think the timing of it, coming on the 80th anniversary of Winston Churchill announcing the end of World War II,
was not a coincidence.
[11:45:00]
It's definitely something that both leaders talked about and wanted to highlight, as well as broader -- highlighting their special relationship.
But, Zain and Bianna, I do want to get into some of the details, the top line details that we heard the President, his economic advisor, Commerce
Secretary Howard Lutnick, and the UK officials, including Starmer, lay out today. So, one is that the 10 percent reciprocal tariff on the United
Kingdom is remaining. That is not going away. And we heard some reporters at that press conference with Starmer in Great Britain kind of press him on
this, and he said, look, that's something that's going to continue to be discussed, but we want to have serious negotiations. He said he doesn't
want to do performative politics when it comes to this.
Some other key things, though, steel and aluminum tariffs are down to zero percent. The U.S. tariffs on UK cars will be at 10 percent on a quota of
100,000 cars. Beyond that, it will go back to 25 percent. They're touting this as new market access for U.S. ethanol, beef and machinery. Notably,
they talked about Rolls Royce. Their engines will be tariff-free. And then also, the UK is putting tariffs in quotas on foreign steel. So, all of
this, again, just some of the highlights of what is going to be a broader deal that really needs to be hammered out down the line. Bianna, Zain.
ASHER: All right. Let me bring in Anna Stewart, who is also joining us. So, Anna, just in terms of how much of a win this is for Keir Starmer and for
Great Britain, I mean, obviously Britain had issues with bolstering economic growth. We just saw the Bank of England have to cut interest rates
because of fears as to what this tariffs -- these tariffs would have done to the UK economy. Just give us your take on how much of a win this is for
Prime Minister Starmer.
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, politically, this is, of course, a victory. This is the first trade deal out the gate. That is a huge victory
for the UK and for the Prime Minister. However, it's not the full and comprehensive, as President Trump put it earlier today on Truth Social,
it's not the full and comprehensive deal some would have expected. It is quite niche. It is targeted at certain sectors, like Alayna was saying,
cars, steel, beef, ethanol. For some of them, for some sectors, this will be significant. For instance, for autos in the UK, the UK will be able to
send 100,000 cars to the U.S. at a 10 percent tariff. That is actually down from 27.5 percent, which is where that levy was for UK cars. It's
significant. Nearly one in five of the UK's exported cars goes to the U.S. So, you can see victories in certain markets.
What is interesting, I think, is also what's not in the deal. For instance, the digital services tax, which is something that the President has been
quite vocal about in the past, is not in it. The UK currently taxes the revenues of Big Tech firms at two percent. Now, that means the UK has some
leverage, perhaps, if there are any future tariffs in the offing, which brings me to the fact that there is no protection in this deal for the UK
for any future tariffs, for instance, the discussion around movies made in the UK, or, for instance, pharmaceuticals. So, there is what's in there.
There is what's not, is a victory for Keir Starmer in the UK. It's just not as big a deal as perhaps some people would have hoped.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, and something the EU is watching very closely as well.
I want to go back to Alayna Treene, because one thing that stood out from what we heard from the President is that this plan is bringing the United
Kingdom into economic security alignments with the United States. What type of security pact is he talking about, do you know?
TREENE: Well, I think some of it is when it related to what he was talking about with steel. And this is something we heard Commerce Secretary Howard
Lutnick also bring up that the United States and the United Kingdom are going to try and work together now when it comes to tariffs on foreign
steel. So, I think that was part of it.
Beyond that, though, regarding security agreements, I'm not sure if any of the highlights that they walked through in the Oval Office and in the
following press conference that Starmer held touched on any of that. Perhaps they could have more conversations, of course, as going forward, as
they continue to hammer out this deal. But, I do think when it comes to national security specifics, they were referring to the tariffs on steel.
ASHER: All right. Alayna Treene, thank you so much.
All right. There is breaking news right now out of India. We're going to go to our colleagues, Pam Brown and Wolf Blitzer, for more on that.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER AND PAMELA BROWN: We have other breaking news we're following here in The Situation Room.
Explosions heard in Jammu city in Indian-administered Kashmir. An Indian Army spokesperson is telling CNN, a complete blackout is now in place,
we're told, with loud explosions, bombing, shelling or missile strikes, suspected, a former Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police said in a
post.
Joining us now is India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra. Mr. Ambassador. Thank you so much for joining us.
VINAY KWATRA, INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: Thank you so much for having me.
BLITZER: It looks like the situation, the tensions between these two nuclear-powered countries, India and Pakistan, is escalating. Is that true?
KWATRA: Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me on the CNN.
[11:50:00]
When you talk of tensions and when you talk of escalation, what I would say is that the original escalation, or the original breakout of tension,
happened on 22nd of April, when you had four terrorists backed by Pakistan carried out killings, brutal killings, sub-human, monstrous kind of
killings of 26 civilians.
BLITZER: Indian civilians.
KWATRA: 25 of them Indian nationals, one of them Nepali national. And the brutality of the killings, they essentially killed them in front of their
innocent wives, in front of their innocent children. They gave them head shots, and they did so on the basis of religion. So, they killed all non-
Muslims who were there in the group. They identified their religion, and then they went on and proceeded to kill them.
So, what we did day before yesterday was essentially our response to terror, our response to these sub-human --
BLITZER: When you say what you did yesterday, meaning the escalation, the military response.
KWATRA: As I said, the original escalation was on 22nd of April, and when that happened, we had clearly said that we are a responsible country. We
will have a very measured, calibrated, proportionate, responsible response, and that's what we did day before yesterday. What we did was we took out
the terror factories at nine locations in Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, took them out, where they trained them. They cooked them. They
armed them. They organized them. Those are the facilities which we took out. We were very careful in excluding the military establishment, the
socialist structures and economic infrastructure. We were very, very cautious, careful in keeping our targets only to those people and their
backers who carried out these dastardly killings on the 22nd.
BLITZER: What can you tell us, Mr. Ambassador, about these explosions that are now being heard in the Indian-administered parts of Kashmir?
KWATRA: Yeah. First of all, I'm sorry, but let me correct you that the entire Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and I think the only
issue to be resolved there is a return of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which is there. We have been hearing reports of some activity of this kind.
We don't have the operational details relating to that. But, again, what these show is that, what it shows the world, what it shows us, what it
shows everybody, is that Pakistan has again decided to stand with the terrorist. Rather than take action against them, they are essentially
lending them support.
We wouldn't be surprised if they are themselves involved in this, but that's what is the message which they are telling the world, that we are
with the terrorists. We are not with the rest of the civilized world, nest of the humanity, and our belief lies and Pakistan's belief lies in
perpetrating these proxies of terror killing, brutal killings of the innocent civilians.
PAMELA BROWN, HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER AND PAMELA BROWN: And as you know, Pakistan has denied involvement. We will have the
Pakistani Ambassador later on this today on CNN. But, just bottom line, how would you describe the situation right now with Pakistan? Of course, India
and Pakistan are two nuclear powers. Are you at war right now?
KWATRA: To your first point about Pakistan's denial, that has always been the first part of Pakistani strategy, denial and obfuscation. You could --
and they have this unique characteristic where they assume responsibility of their past actions in future, not in the present moment, 9/11, where was
Osama bin Laden found? World Trade Center bombings of 1993, the perpetrator of that. Where was the killer of Daniel Pearl found? 26/11 Mumbai attacks,
where American nationals also died, where were those perpetrators found?
And this is not me telling you this. This is the -- a few days ago, the defense minister of Pakistan openly admitted to this on the Sky News
Network that we have been supporting terrorism for last 30 years. But, they always do that. They will always assume responsibility of their actions in
future.
BLITZER: They are today publicly denying the reports that you're suggesting that they deliberately murdered these Indian civilians in front of their
families.
KWATRA: As I mentioned to you, Wolf, that on 22nd April, and there is plenty of evidence to go around it, four terrorists backed by Pakistan,
killed, brutally killed 26 innocent civilians.
[11:55:00]
Let me underscore these three points. Four terrorists backed by Pakistan killing 26 civilians. I mean, in no world would you allow such terrorists
to be given a free pass, and that is precisely what we did day before yesterday. We carried out very precise, calibrated, measured response to
these terrorists, to their factories, to their integrated facilities, which they run out of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
BLITZER: Is this is a war between Pakistan --
KWATRA: It is nobody's case. If I could just complete.
BLITZER: Yeah.
KWATRA: It is nobody cares to say that such terrorists should be given a free pass, wherever they are located. I'm sure we all appreciate that.
American public appreciates that. Large number of congressmen and senators we have spoken to appreciate that. The whole world appreciates that that
India should respond and bring accountability for these terrorists and justice for the victims. This, the whole day before yesterday, our attacks,
were as essentially about bringing accountability to the terrorists and justice for the victims.
BROWN: Are you at war, though, with Pakistan?
KWATRA: Sorry.
BROWN: Are you at war with Pakistan?
KWATRA: Look, the template in which we look at it, I can well understand the frame in which you are perhaps appreciating it. The frame and the
template in which we look at is the terror template. 22nd April was the most heinous terrorist act. These terrorists, as I said, is nobody's case
to say that these terrorists should be given a free pass, and that's precisely what we did day before yesterday, held them accountable, brought
them to justice. Now, yesterday morning, I believe, that's per our defense ministry, Pakistan tried to engage some military targets on our side. Now,
this was Pakistan's way of saying to the world, look, we stand with the terrorists. We will do what's good for the terrorists, not what good for
the rest of the country.
BROWN: But, is India at war with Pakistan? That's my question.
KWATRA: We are at war with the terrorists, and we will, as I said, bring justice to the victims and hold them accountable.
BLITZER: Is this in part a religious war between Pakistani Muslims and Indian Hindus?
KWATRA: I think it is Indian action against the terrorists, the ones who carried out those killings of the civilians. Our frame of reference in
doing these attacks, in holding them accountable, is holding terrorism accountable. That's our frame. It is India and terror activities backed by
Pakistan, which were responsible for killing of the 26 innocent civilians.
BROWN: You say you're at war with the terrorists. At what point will you be satisfied?
KWATRA: Well, as I said, when we did our attacks, measured attacks, proportionate attacks, day before yesterday, that was precisely the point
we were trying to convey, that these terrorists carried out these brutal killings of 26 civilians.
BROWN: So, are you done with the attacks, or do you think they're going to continue?
KWATRA: If I could just complete. So, when we did this day before yesterday, our assumption was that we have completed what we set out to do
ourselves, vis-a-vis the terrorists. We, from our perspective, had brought a certain finality to it, but it was, of course, subject to whether
Pakistan has brought finality to it. Pakistan chose to escalate it further. Now, it is duty bound for us to respond to that. So, our original
escalation was 22nd April, to which we responded, and there was a certain finality from our side.
BLITZER: These reports that India recently, in the last few days, lost five jets, military jets, is that true?
BROWN: And Indian soldiers as well.
KWATRA: Look, the -- I really would not be in a position to speak to the operational details. I'm sure in fullness of time, they would all come out.
We are, of course, continuing to assert in the details on the ground. But, as I said, our foremost objective in this was hold these low lives, sub-
human monsters accountable and bring justice to the victory.
BLITZER: Here is what concerns so many people, that India has a nuclear weapon. Pakistan has a nuclear weapon. How concerned should the world be
that this fighting that's going on right now could escalate into a nuclear war?
KWATRA: I think the world should be concerned about the fact that Pakistan's support to terrorism and terrorist activities continues. I think
that's what the world should be concerned about, and I think that's what the world should tell Pakistan, to stop supporting terrorism. I think
that's the crux of the question.
BROWN: But, do you think it could get to the point of nuclear weapons?
KWATRA: That's for you to ask Pakistan for that.
BROWN: OK. So, let me just quickly, can you confirm Pakistan's claim that it killed dozens of Indian soldiers?
KWATRA: As I said, those operational details I can't comment to. I mean, Pakistan has -- is indulging in all kinds of misinformation campaign,
something which is very difficult to really comment on. But, those are operational aspects which, as I said, would come out in fullness of time.
BLITZER: Indian Ambassador to United States, Vinay Kwatra, thank you so much for joining us. We'll continue this conversation.
KWATRA: Thank you very much, Wolf.
BLITZER: We appreciate it very much.
BROWN: Thank you very much.
BLITZER: Thank you very much.
BROWN: Appreciate you coming on.
BLITZER: And tune in later today to The Lead. Jake Tapper will speak with Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh.
BROWN: Thank you so much for joining us this morning. You can keep up with us on social media @wolfblitzer and @pamelabrowncnn. We'll see you back
here tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. Inside Politics with Dana Bash is next.
END
