Brits' fears of Trump trade deal unveiled in poll ahead of major announcement
US President Donald Trump is with the UK in a press conference at around 3pm today - while Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also set to give an update to the British public
Almost two in three (64%) Brits fear that a UK-US trade deal would give Donald Trump greater influence over the UK government, polling shows.
The US President is expected to reveal a trade agreement with the UK in a press conference at around 3pm today. He teased the announcement of a "major trade deal" with a "big, highly respected country" in a post on his Truth Social platform overnight.
Keir Starmer is also due to give an update to the British public later today. Referring to the announcement in his VE Day speech this morning, the PM told voters "make no mistake, I will always act in our national interest, for workers, businesses and families, to deliver security and renewal for our country".
But polling shows Brits are distrustful of Mr Trump, with more than two thirds of Brits (68%) saying they do not trust the US to agree to a fair deal. In a clear message to the PM, the public overwhelmingly (78%) wants the government to stand up to the US Republican politician in trade negotiations, according to the survey for campaign group 38 Degrees by pollsters JL Partners.
The research, carried out Tuesday and Wednesday this week, showed the public want the UK to prioritise the EU as a trading partner, not the US. Some 67% prefer the EU, with just 14% opting for the US.
After it emerged a trade agreement would be announced today the Liberal Democrats demanded a vote to be held in Parliament on any deal with the US. Polling shows two thirds (66%) of Brits agree that any trade deal should be put to a vote in Parliament.
US tech billionaires are expected to get a tax cut as part of the deal, with the digital services tax said to be part of the trade agreement. Elsewhere ministers have ruled out lowering food standards to allow more US agricultural products into the country, or watering down the Online Safety Act, which some in the US regard as placing restrictions on freedom of speech.
Some 73% say they would be worried if the government agreed to reduce current standards, while 57% also say they would be worried if the Government agreed to reduce tax for US tech giants, including 62% of those who voted Labour in 2024. Voters also raised concerns about the NHS in the poll, with 35% of people saying they don't trust the government to prevent the NHS being opened up to US healthcare.
More than 301,828 people have now backed 38 Degrees campaigns related to the US trade deal, including through petitions calling on the Government to commit to not including the health service in any trade deal, to keep the ban on chlorinated chicken and other food standards, and to oppose a tax cut for US tax giants.
Nations across the world have been scrambling to get a deal to ease levies slapped on any imports going into the US. It comes after Mr Trump unleashed a wave of tariffs on so-called "Liberation Day". The Government has been pursuing a deal with the US to reduce the impact of sweeping tariffs imposed by Mr Trump last month, which placed a 10% levy on all UK exports and a 25% charge on steel, aluminium and cars.
Matthew McGregor, chief executive of 38 Degrees, said: 'As Keir Starmer prepares to sign a US-UK trade deal, it's clear that the public have strong fears about the potential for Donald Trump to wield increased influence over the UK as a result - and the impact that could have on everything from our food standards to the taxes paid by tech giants.'
Tom Lubbock, JL Partners co-founder, said: 'It's clear the British Public want the Prime Minister to stand up to Trump. There is also just a profound fear with the British public that the US will not do a fair deal and at the very least most of the public want Parliament to have a vote on the final terms of the deal.'
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