What the US trade deal means for Scotland and the UK

The deal was announced on Thursday

The US-UK trade agreement has finally been confirmed in what was described as a “fantastic, historic day” by Sir Keir Starmer.

Announced through a phone call between the Prime Minister and US President, it sees reductions to a series of tariffs, as well as major changes in various industries.

READ MORE: UK US trade deal: Donald Trump announces 'comprehensive' deal on 'special day'

Donald Trump said the “final details” of the agreement were still being “written up”, but that “just about everything has been approved”.

Here’s what it means for the UK and Scotland.

Steel and cars

One area that will particularly please Downing Street is US tariffs on steel and aluminium being reduced from 25 per cent to zero. For cars, tariffs are reduced from 27.5 per cent to ten per cent, for up to 100,000 cars a year.

Sir Keir said there is scope to increase that in the future, adding it would save jobs.

He said: "That is a deal that will protect British businesses and save thousands of jobs in Britain".

US machinery, chemicals, and industry

Mr Trump said the deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, most notably American beef, something he described as the “best in the world”. This means Scots will be able to buy American beef, something previously complicated by the UK’s higher food standards.

Sir Keir said the deal will give “unprecedented market access for British farmers” to the US “without compromising our high standards”.

This is not expected to include chlorinated chicken or hormone-fed beef, with ministers insisting earlier this week that there were “red lines” around food standards.

Speaking in the Oval office, Mr Trump suggested the US is probably heading to a system more similar to the UK’s “with no chemicals. No this, no that”.

This could create competition for Scottish farmers, but also more options for British consumers.

Donald Trump announced the deal on Thursday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire | Niall Carson/PA Wire

Science and technology

US ambassador Lord Mandelson said the agreement is "not the end", with more to come.

He hinted there could be a technology partnership, and working more closely on "science, enterprise and endeavour" could be next.

The Prime Minister also said it was good for UK pharmaceuticals, saying while they had not been hit with tariffs, they were not a priority for trade with the US.

Both leaders insisted more elements of the deal could emerge soon, with the Prime Minister saying there was more to come on tech, while Mr Trump said it could “get bigger with growth”.