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DONALD Trump is set to arrive in the UK for an unprecedented second state visit, but there is more than just pomp and ceremony on the agenda.
Trump said he is “into helping” the UK on fine-tuning the UK-US trade deal, as the Government seeks to eliminate the tariffs on British steel imports to the US.
Speaking to reporters before his trip, he said: “Basically, I’m there also on trade. They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit.
“We’ve made a deal, and it’s a great deal, and I’m into helping them.
“Our country is doing very well. We’ve never done this well. We’re having trillions of dollars come in because of the tariffs.
“They’d like to see if they could get a little bit better deal. So, we’ll talk to them.”
So what deals are on the agenda, and what issues will Keir Starmer and the UK Government be looking to avoid?
Nuclear energy
Labour’s plans to expand nuclear power have been given a boost by transatlantic deals for new modular reactors, fast tracking safety checks and several new private sector deals.
Centrica, the UK’s largest energy supplier, and US reactor firm X-energy are set to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, which ministers say could create up to 2500 jobs in the north east of England.
Starmer has described the deal, set to be signed off during the state visit, as a “landmark nuclear partnership” that will power growth.
The deal is unlikely to have any impact on Scotland due to the SNP’s longstanding opposition to “expensive” nuclear power, with the focus on renewable energy north of the Border.
And why is there such a focus on nuclear energy? US secretary of energy Chris Wright said America was looking to nuclear power to “fuel the AI revolution”, which takes us to the next item on the agenda.
Tech bro entourage
Starmer and Trump are widely expected to sign a US-UK tech deal at the beginning of the visit, with the focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum and space.
More details will be released on Tuesday evening, but the long and short of it is that Trump is bringing a group of tech heavyweights with him as they look to expand their influence on this side of the Atlantic.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Blackstone chief executive Stephen Schwarzman, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, who is hosting a party on Thursday at London’s King’s Cross, are all accompanying Trump on the trip.
Nvidia is reportedly due to announce investment in the UK’s biggest data centre, planned for Blyth in the north east of England. A subsidiary of Blackstone is understood to be leading the project, with OpenAI involved, and expected to be billed as the British “stargate”.
With the UK only putting £2 billion of public money towards its AI strategy, it is heavily reliant on US investment and technology to make it happen.
LibDem leader Ed Davey has criticised the deal as a "Silicon Valley stitch-up" and called for MPs to be given a vote on it in Parliament, as it risks handing “tax cuts to tech billionaires while undermining protections for our children online”.
Whisky
After First Minister John Swinney’s trip to Washington to argue that the 10% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on whisky should be lifted, the Peter Mandelson saga imploded. Mandelson was withdrawn from his role as UK ambassador to the US over his links to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Swinney has said he fears there is a “very real risk” that the saga could have an impact on trade negotiations.
“The UK Government is completely distracted. It’s been distracted for weeks and it’s been distracted by its own internal failings, mistakes and errors,” the first minister told the BBC.
International conflicts
There are a few issues that are likely to crop up around Ukraine and Gaza. Trump delighted EU leaders by calling Russia “the aggressor” in its war against Ukraine for the first time, but followed up with some worrying social media comments.
He blamed the war on his predecessor on Joe Biden and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, before urging European allies to impose 100% tariffs on China and India.
So the focus could be on trying to turn Trump’s focus back to Vladimir Putin.
And, as the UK is preparing to recognise the state of Palestine at the UN general assembly in New York later this month, Trump could weigh in. He has previously said recognition would amount to “rewarding Hamas”, and UK officials will be hoping to neutralise the issue during the visit.
Pomp and protests
Trump will spend Tuesday night at Windsor Castle, before public events kick off on Wednesday. The US President is expected to avoid London, where a huge “Trump Not Welcome” protest is set to take place.
But, he won’t be able to avoid them completely as protests are planned on Windsor high street.
Wednesday will see Trump and the Royals travel through the Windsor estate on a carriage, with troops and military bands galore, before the US president joins Starmer to watch the beating the retreat ceremony.
Later in the evening comes the extravagant white-tie banquet at Windsor Castle where Trump and King Charles will give speeches.
On Thursday, Trump will join Starmer at Chequers for a bilateral meeting and a reception with business leaders, before the pair hold a joint press conference before the US president leaves to fly back to America.
All eyes will be on whether Trump weighs in on the Mandelson saga, so hold your breath for that one.
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