EDINBURGH, Scotland (TNND) — President Donald Trump is traveling to Scotland on Friday for a little play and a little work as he prepares for the opening of a new golf course on Aug. 13 in Aberdeenshire and plans to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
He is expected to discuss trade with Starmer and clarify a deal they announced in June at the G7 summit in Canada to cut tariffs and expand market access between the two countries.
The deal rolls back a range of tariffs placed on British goods like vehicles and aerospace parts, but still leaves questions about steel production, which came after Trump doubled the U.S. tariff on imported steel and aluminum to 50%.
Tariffs on British cars were reduced to 10% to 25% and slashed levies on some airplane parts. The U.S. will also allow a certain amount of steel from the U.K. to enter the country tariff-free in a quote that will be set by the Commerce Department.
In exchange, U.S. ethanol exports will be tariff-free up to a set limit, down from the previous rate of 19%. Britain will also remove a 20% tariff on American beef, up to 29 million pounds, but a ban on hormone-treated beef remains in place.
Since unveiling steep tariffs in April on nearly all U.S. trading partners, the United Kingdom is one of the few countries to negotiate a deal ahead of the third deadline for increasing levies.
Trump began sending letters to countries on July 7, warning of expensive rates on all their products if they don’t agree to a trade deal with the U.S. by Aug. 1.
“We had the best six months ever. We’re now heading to Scotland. I’m meeting with the Prime Minister of the UK… We have great economic numbers — the deal with Japan is amazing,” Trump told reporters Friday morning before departing for Turnberry, Scotland.
The president is expected to spend four days in Scotland as his administration faces questions from supporters over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
There were reports of several protests being planned in response to Trump’s trip. The “Stop Trump Coalition” has been vocal about the president not being welcome and organized demonstrations on Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries.
Trump is set for another trip to the United Kingdom in September when he attends a state visit hosted by King Charles III. First Lady Melania Trump will join him from Sept. 17 through Sept. 19.
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Editor’s note: The National Desk’s Austin Denean contributed to this article.
