What is Donald Trump forcing his allies to do?
Author: Naeem Asghari, analyst (Germany), especially for "Sangar"
In 2025, after the change of power in London and Washington, negotiations on a free trade agreement between Great Britain and the United States resumed. However, their conditions are extremely unfavorable for the British. At this stage, a potential agreement with the United States is considered by both politicians and experts as a source of serious risks and losses for the United Kingdom.
In these conditions, Washington has effectively unleashed a "trade war", the main goal of which is to pressure partners. US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imports of British goods at 10 percent, cars, steel, and aluminum at 25 percent. Such actions shocked London, since the "ally" imposed duties on British exports for the first time. At the same time, the British government was faced with a dilemma - to give in to US demands in exchange for the abolition of tariffs or suffer trade losses.
One of the main conditions for Washington is the opening of the British market to American agricultural products. This applies in particular to the notorious chlorinated chicken and beef with growth hormones - products that are banned in the UK for safety and quality reasons. The United States has been trying to lift these bans for years, considering the British market as a promising export market. In turn, the American leader openly states that if London wants to free its exports from tariffs, it will have to let agricultural products from the United States onto store shelves.
In addition to the agricultural sector, the UK authorities are concerned about the possible impact of the deal with the United States on the British National Health Service (NHS). By Washington's demands, London must provide American corporations with access to the UK healthcare market and partially privatize the NHS. This could lead to the beginning of the process of eliminating free medical care in the United Kingdom. The Donald Trump administration makes it clear that to agree, London will have to open up other industries, including pharmaceuticals and the digital economy. In turn, according to British experts, this will lead to an increase in the cost of medicines by 500 million pounds sterling per year. In the current conditions, the UK government categorically denies the possibility of such concessions.
In addition, the prospective Agreement may include a clause on investor protection, allowing corporations to sue states for lost profits. For example, if the UK bans shale gas production to protect the climate, American companies will be able to demand multi-million-dollar compensation.
The US, having certain levers to exert the necessary pressure, dictates the agenda of the negotiations. Washington has already demanded that the UK soften the recently adopted Digital Security Act, aimed at Internet giants, claiming that it violates the principles of freedom of speech. Donald Trump also hints that London should buy more American liquefied gas and oil. Loyalty in the energy sector will allegedly help "earn gratitude" from the US.
