Inside the Trump phone call that led to Starmer’s trade breakthrough

WorldPolitics
10 May 2025 • 5:33 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured a trade deal with the US after a phone call with Donald Trump.
  • The deal, crucial for offsetting recent US tariffs, was finalized after a last-minute hitch involving US demands for further concessions.
  • UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson played a key role in the negotiations, earning praise from Trump.
  • The deal's announcement was marred by a logistical error that sent journalists to the wrong city for a press conference.
  • The agreement was reached shortly before the Vatican announced the election of a new pope.

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