Latest news with #EconomicProsperityDeal
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Trump says Gaza ceasefire is 'possible'
US President Donald Trump said that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was "possible". He made the comments to reporters at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, where he was meeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Mr Trump also said that he will cut the 50-day deadline he has set Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. "I'm disappointed in President Putin, very disappointed in him. So we're going to have to look and I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number". The prime minister travelled to Ayrshire, where the US president is staying at his Turnberry golf resort, for wide-ranging discussions on trade and the Middle East as international concern grows over starvation in Gaza. The two leaders have built a rapport despite their differing political backgrounds, with Mr Trump praising Mr Starmer for doing a "very good job" in office ahead of their talks. But humanitarian conditions in Gaza and uncertainty over US import taxes on key British goods in America threaten to complicate their bilateral meeting. Peace talks in the Middle East came to a standstill last week after the US and Israel recalled negotiating teams from Qatar, with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for a "lack of desire" to reach an agreement. Since then, Israel has promised military pauses in three populated areas of Gaza to allow designated UN convoys of aid to reach desperate Palestinians. But the UK, which is joining efforts to airdrop aid into the enclave and evacuate children in need of medical assistance, said that access to supplies must be "urgently" widened. During discussions with Mr Trump, Downing Street said the prime minister will "welcome the president's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza". "He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long," it said. The leaders will also talk "one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries", it added. The agreement signed at the G7 summit last month cut trade barriers on goods from both countries. But tariffs for the steel industry, which is of key economic importance to the UK, were left to stand at 25% rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. Concerns had previously been raised that the sector could face a levy of up to 50% - the US's global rate - unless a further agreement was made by 9 July, when Mr Trump said he would start implementing import taxes on America's trading partners. But that deadline has been and gone without any concrete update on the status of UK steel. Downing Street said both sides are working "at pace" to "go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic" and to give UK industry "the security it needs". The two leaders are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, which Number 10 said would include "applying pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the invasion, before travelling on together for a private engagement in Aberdeen. It comes after Mr Trump announced he had agreed "the biggest deal ever made" between the US and the European Union after meeting Ursula von der Leyen for high-stakes talks at Turnberry yesterday. After a day playing golf, the US president met the president of the EU Commission to hammer out the broad terms of an agreement that will subject the bloc to 15% tariffs on most of its goods entering America. This is lower than a 30% levy previously threatened by the US president. The agreement will include "zero for zero" tariffs on a number of products including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals, as well as EU purchases of US energy worth 750 billion dollars (€638bln) over three years. Speaking to journalists yesterday about his meeting with the prime minister, Mr Trump said: "We're meeting about a lot of things. We have our trade deal and it's been a great deal. "It's good for us. It's good for them and good for us. "I think the UK is very happy, they've been trying for 12 years to get it and they got it, and it's a great trade deal for both, works out very well." Mr Trump said he thinks discussions will feature "a lot about Israel". "They're very much involved in terms of wanting something to happen," he said. "He's doing a very good job, by the way," he added. Mr Trump's private trip to the UK comes ahead of a planned state visit in September.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
John Swinney and Donald Trump to meet in Aberdeen
JOHN Swinney will use his meeting with Donald Trump to push for stronger US pressure on Israel and to seek trade concessions for key Scottish exports. Swinney is expected to urge the US president to back an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and increase humanitarian aid access during a meeting on Tuesday. The First Minister is also reported to have accepted an invitation to have dinner with the president on Monday night. Swinney is expected to make the case that the 'blunt human reality' of starvation in the enclave requires urgent international action. READ MORE: John Swinney to discuss 'horrific' Gaza humanitarian crisis with Donald Trump 'There must be an intensification of pressure on Israel,' Swinney said in a BBC interview. 'President Trump is ideally positioned – perhaps uniquely positioned – to ensure safe passage for humanitarian aid and push for a durable ceasefire. The people of Gaza face absolutely unbearable conditions.' Swinney will also press Trump to exclude Scotch whisky from the current 10% US tariff on UK exports. He argued the 'uniqueness' of Scottish whisky production merits special exemption. 'It can only be produced in Scotland. It's not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world," Swinney said. 'So there's a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place. 'Obviously the trade deal with the United States provides a degree of stability for economic connections with the United States, but the application of tariffs is increasing the costs for the Scotch whisky industry. 'So one of my objectives will be to make the case to President Trump that Scotch whiskey should be exempted from those tariffs. 'It's a product that is uniquely produced in Scotland, and it's a product that is much welcomed and supported within the United States. 'And I think there's a really good case for exempting Scotch whisky, and this is an opportunity that I have to put that case to President Trump on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, which is a significant part of the Scottish economy.' Swinney said the tariffs are currently costing the industry around £4 million each week, describing them as a 'significant burden'. He added that reaching a deal would support economic growth and development in Scotland. 'Obviously, I'll be using every opportunity I have to try to put that across to President Trump," he continued. His interventions come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Trump for broader discussions on the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the future of UK-US trade. While a recent UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal eased some barriers, tariffs on British steel remain unresolved. Industry leaders had feared a hike to 50%, but the current 25% rate still poses challenges, particularly with no new agreement following a July 9 deadline set by the Trump administration. READ MORE: Donald Trump to meet John Swinney and Keir Starmer for Gaza talks Downing Street said both governments are working "at pace" to provide long-term certainty for UK industry and deliver tangible benefits to workers on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump is also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine with Starmer, including coordinated efforts to pressure Vladimir Putin to end the invasion. After their meetings in Ayrshire, the pair will travel to Aberdeen for a private engagement. Trump struck a trade deal between the US and EU during his meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Turnberry on Sunday. The agreement introduces a 15% tariff on most EU goods entering the US – down from a previously threatened 30% – and includes significant energy commitments.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
John Swinney to press Donald Trump on whisky tariffs and Gaza
Swinney is expected to urge the US president to back an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and increase humanitarian aid access during a meeting in Aberdeen on Monday. The First Minister will make the case that the 'blunt human reality' of starvation in the enclave requires urgent international action. READ MORE: John Swinney to discuss 'horrific' Gaza humanitarian crisis with Donald Trump 'There must be an intensification of pressure on Israel,' Swinney said in a BBC interview. 'President Trump is ideally positioned – perhaps uniquely positioned – to ensure safe passage for humanitarian aid and push for a durable ceasefire. The people of Gaza face absolutely unbearable conditions.' Swinney will also press Trump to exclude Scotch whisky from the current 10% US tariff on UK exports. He argued the 'uniqueness' of Scottish whisky production merits special exemption. 'It can only be produced in Scotland. It's not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world', Swinney said. 'So there's a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place. 'Obviously the trade deal with the United States provides a degree of stability for economic connections with the United States, but the application of tariffs is increasing the costs for the Scotch whisky industry. 'So one of my objectives will be to make the case to President Trump that Scotch whiskey should be exempted from those tariffs. 'It's a product that is uniquely produced in Scotland, and it's a product that is much welcomed and supported within the United States. 'And I think there's a really good case for exempting Scotch whisky, and this is an opportunity that I have to put that case to President Trump on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, which is a significant part of the Scottish economy.' Swinney said the tariffs are currently costing the industry around £4 million each week, describing them as a 'significant burden'. He added that reaching a deal would support economic growth and development in Scotland. 'Obviously, I'll be using every opportunity I have to try to put that across to President Trump', he continued. His interventions come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Trump for broader discussions on the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the future of UK-US trade. While a recent UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal eased some barriers, tariffs on British steel remain unresolved. Industry leaders had feared a hike to 50%, but the current 25% rate still poses challenges, particularly with no new agreement following a July 9 deadline set by the Trump administration. READ MORE: Donald Trump to meet John Swinney and Keir Starmer for Gaza talks Downing Street said both governments are working "at pace" to provide long-term certainty for UK industry and deliver tangible benefits to workers on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump is also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine with Starmer, including coordinated efforts to pressure Vladimir Putin to end the invasion. After their meetings in Ayrshire, the pair will travel to Aberdeen for a private engagement. Trump struck a trade deal between the US and EU during his meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Turnberry on Sunday. The agreement introduces a 15% tariff on most EU goods entering the US – down from a previously threatened 30% – and includes significant energy commitments.
STV News
2 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Starmer to raise Gaza ceasefire and UK steel tariffs in Trump meeting
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to raise the prospect of reviving ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and the future of tariffs on British steel as he meets Donald Trump in Scotland. The Prime Minister will travel to Ayrshire, where the US president is staying at his Turnberry golf resort, for wide-ranging discussions on trade and the Middle East as international alarm grows over starvation in Gaza. The two leaders have built a rapport on the world stage despite their differing political backgrounds, with Trump praising Starmer for doing a 'very good job' in office ahead of their talks on Monday. But humanitarian conditions in Gaza and uncertainty over US import taxes on key British goods in America threaten to complicate their bilateral meeting. PA Media The US president has been playing golf at his Turnberry resort in Scotland (PA). Peace talks in the Middle East came to a standstill last week after Washington and Israel recalled negotiating teams from Qatar, with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for a 'lack of desire' to reach an agreement. Since then, Israel has promised military pauses in three populated areas of Gaza to allow designated UN convoys of aid to reach desperate Palestinians. But the UK, which is joining efforts to airdrop aid into the enclave and evacuate children in need of medical assistance, has said that access to supplies must be 'urgently' widened. In his talks with Trump, Starmer will 'welcome the President's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza', Number 10 said. 'He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long.' The leaders will also talk 'one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries', it said. The agreement signed at the G7 summit last month slashed trade barriers on goods from both countries. But tariffs for the steel industry, which is of key economic importance to the UK, were left to stand at 25% rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. Concerns had previously been raised that the sector could face a levy of up to 50% – the US's global rate – unless a further agreement was made by July 9, when Mr Trump said he would start implementing import taxes on America's trading partners. But that deadline has been and gone without any concrete update on the status of UK steel. Downing Street said that both sides are working 'at pace' to 'go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic' and to give UK industry 'the security it needs'. The two leaders are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, which Number 10 said would include 'applying pressure' on Vladimir Putin to end the invasion, before travelling on together for a private engagement in Aberdeen. It comes after Trump announced he had agreed 'the biggest deal ever made' between the US and the European Union after meeting Ursula von der Leyen for high-stakes talks at Turnberry on Sunday. After a day playing golf, the US leader met the President of the EU Commission to hammer out the broad terms of an agreement that will subject the bloc to 15% tariffs on most of its goods entering America. This is lower than a 30% levy previously threatened by the US president. The agreement will include 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals, as well as EU purchases of US energy worth 750 billion dollars (£558 billion) over three years. Speaking to journalists on Sunday about his meeting with Starmer, Trump said: 'We're meeting about a lot of things. We have our trade deal and it's been a great deal. 'It's good for us. It's good for them and good for us. I think the UK is very happy, they've been trying for 12 years to get it and they got it, and it's a great trade deal for both, works out very well. 'We'll be discussing that. I think we're going to be discussing a lot about Israel. 'They're very much involved in terms of wanting something to happen. 'He's doing a very good job, by the way.' Trump's private trip to the UK comes ahead of a planned state visit in September. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
UPI
2 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Trump, Starmer to meet in Scotland to talk trade, Gaza
President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain at the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 27. The pair are to meet Monday at Trump's Scotland golf course where they are expected to talk trade and the war in Gaza. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI. | License Photo July 28 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland on Monday when the Western leaders are expected to discuss cease-fire plans for the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Starmer is to travel to Trump's golf course in Turnberry where the American president on Sunday announced a new trade deal with the European Union. According to a statement from 10 Downing Street, Trump and Starmer are to have "wide-ranging" one-on-one talks, including on the implementation of the Economic Prosperity Deal that the pair signed on May 8 and which came into effect last month. Starmer is also expected to discuss with Trump "what more can be done to secure the cease-fire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long." Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has sought a cease-fire and hostage-release deal in the war in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza between Iran-poxy militia Hamas and Israel, but has repeatedly been met with obstacles. On Thursday, Israel and the United States recalled their negotiators, ending talks with Hamas that had initially sparked optimism that a deal could be reached. The Trump administration has blamed Hamas for the breakdown, with Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, stating the Iran-backed militia's latest response "clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a cease-fire in Gaza." "It's a shame Hamas has acted in this selfish way," he said in a statement. The Trump-Starmer meeting comes amid a deteriorating situation in Gaza where aid agencies are warning of starvation. Israel has announced a so-called tactical pause to fighting in specific areas to allow the delivery of aid between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., local time, on Sunday. The announcement came as the Middle Eastern country is coming under mounting international pressure over its war in Gaza and its restrictions on aid entering the territory. According to the Save the Children charity, 133 people, including 87 children, have already died from malnutrition and starvation. Britain is among 30 nations that are calling for the war in Gaza to end, describing Israel's aid delivery model as "dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity." "We condemn the drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food," the nations said in the joint statement, which calls on Israel to lift the restrictions on the flow of aid. "The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law." Britain, France and Germany separately over the weekend issued a statement calling for Israel and Hamas to end the conflict "by reaching an immediate cease-fire." Trump and Starmer are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine. After the meeting, they will have a private engagement in Aberdeen, 10 Downing Street said. The meeting also comes ahead of Trump being received for a State Visit hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle from Sept. 17 to 19. It will be Trump's second State Visit after a previous trip in 2019 where he was hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
