Sir Keir was left to literally pick up the pieces
US President Donald Trump‘s butter fingers caused a bit of a scene at the G7 Summit this week.
Unfolding in Alberta, Canada on Monday, June 16, Trump and his UK counterpart Sir Keir Starmer finally signed a trade agreement more than a month after it was originally announced (via Metro).
Aerospace and automotive industries throughout Britain will now be protected from the sky-high US tariffs, although the floundering steel industry wasn’t mentioned in the deal.
Steel exported to the US from the UK incurs a 25% tax, yet it’s still 25% lower than what every other country in the world has to cough up.
Right as the two world leaders were about to confirm that pen had been put to paper in front of the press, Trump dropped most of the paperwork on the ground, leaving Starmer to bend down and retrieve them before the wind swept them away.
“A very important document,” commented the Prime Minister as he carefully placed it back inside the folder with a smile
We just signed it and it’s done,” noted Trump. “He’s done a very, very good job. You know, he’s done what other people — they’ve been talking about this deal for six years and he’s done what they haven’t been able to do.”
Pressed on why the deal had finally been agreed upon, the 79-year-old replied: “The UK is very well protected. You know why? Because I like them – that’s their ultimate protection.”
Starmer went on to share: “Donald, thank you very much. This now implements on car tariffs and aerospace. A really important agreement. And so this is a very good day for both of our countries, a real sign of strength.”
As a result, the previous 27.5% tariff on cars will be cut to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles shipped over to the US.
Per The Financial Times, jet engines and other aerospace elements are now tariff-free
