The headlines were unmistakably grand. President Donald Trump declared a “very big” trade deal with the UK, repeating the phrase for emphasis, as evidence that his new reciprocal tariff regime was starting to deliver. But as with most things in Trumpworld, the fine print underwhelms. What the US and the UK have struck is not a deal, but an agreement to someday have a deal.The broader context matters. Roughly halfway through the 90-day window, Trump himself set for negotiations with America’s major trading partners, the administration has precious little to show. The UK pact, thin as it is, appears to have been rushed out under pressure to claim a win — any win — before the clock runs out.
.png)
