What should have been a polished moment of diplomatic triumph turned unexpectedly awkward when U.S. President Donald Trump fumbled the official U.S.-UK trade agreement during a joint announcement with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The event took place at the G7 summit, where both leaders had gathered to confirm that a long-awaited transatlantic trade deal had finally been signed.
Instead of a clean photo op, Trump opened a sleek black folder only to have the signed documents tumble to the floor—prompting Starmer to quickly bend down to gather them.
Ever the showman, Trump chuckled, saying, “Oops, sorry about that,” while Starmer tried to smooth things over, joking, “It’s a very important document.”
Trump Confuses UK with EU, But Says the Deal Is “Fair”
Standing side-by-side with Starmer, Trump went on to declare, “We signed it and it’s done,” before mistakenly stating that the deal was with the European Union—not the United Kingdom.
Despite the blunder, he continued, “It’s a fair deal for both. It’ll produce a lot of jobs, a lot of income.”
Starmer took the opportunity to frame the agreement as a symbol of renewed strength between the two allies.
“Donald, thank you very much. This now implements on car tariffs and aerospace,” he said.
“A really important agreement. And so this is a very good day for both of our countries, a real sign of strength.”
Details remained vague, especially regarding exactly what’s changing in those industries—but both leaders seemed eager to show unity, even if the folder didn’t cooperate.
Steel Tariffs Still in Limbo
While some progress was made on tariffs for cars and aerospace, the issue of steel remains uncertain.
When asked about the possibility of reducing U.S. tariffs on British steel to zero, Trump kept things vague: “We’re gonna let you have that information in a little while.”
Since Trump’s sweeping tariff policies began on April 2, British exports have been hit with a 10% levy on most goods, along with a 25% charge on cars and steel.
Although the steel tariff was later hiked to 50% for other countries, the UK received a temporary exemption—keeping its rate at 25% until at least July 9.
Last month’s trade framework reportedly includes quotas that would eliminate the steel tariff and cut vehicle duties to 10%.
However, that part of the agreement has yet to kick in, leaving many UK businesses in the dark about what to expect next.
“The UK Is Very Well Protected… Because I Like Them”
Pressed on whether the UK could face future tariff surprises, Trump brushed off concerns, saying, “The UK is very well protected, you know why? Because I like them.”
He praised Starmer for accomplishing what other leaders hadn’t in pushing this deal over the line, calling their bilateral relationship “fantastic.”
“The Prime Minister’s done a great job,” Trump said to reporters.
“They’ve been talking about this deal for six years, and he’s done what they haven’t been able to do.”
A Deal Six Years in the Making
Before the meeting, Starmer had emphasized that finalizing the trade deal was a top priority going into the summit.
Though a draft framework had been agreed upon six weeks earlier, actual approval had been slow on the U.S. side.
On Monday, that changed—with a bit of unintended comedy.
Now, with the deal reportedly signed—despite the spilled papers and mix-up with the EU—both leaders are banking on it being the start of a stronger economic partnership.
Whether it will be remembered more for the policy or the pratfall remains to be seen.