Since the chaotic and disruptive Brexit process, which saw the UK leave the world’s largest trading bloc, Britain’s economy has struggled, and its trade ambitions have often been more talk than action.
Despite years of promises from the Conservative government, many trade agreements have been underwhelming, with some, such as the deals with Australia and New Zealand, undermining key sectors like agriculture and leaving British farmers at a disadvantage.
But last week, that changed.
The UK government has secured trade agreements with two of the world’s largest economies – India and the United States. At a time of global uncertainty, these trade pacts reaffirm Britain’s position as a confident, outward-looking trading nation and offer tangible benefits for working people, British businesses, and the national interest.
The trade deal with India, projected to become the world’s third-largest economy within three years, Britain now enjoys a first-mover advantage in a market that is expected to demand £1.4 trillion in imports annually.
For the UK public, this means more jobs, higher wages, and economic growth. The deal is forecast to boost bilateral trade by £26 billion, raise UK GDP by 5 billion, and increase wages by £2.2 billion annually in the long run.
Crucially, this deal slashes tariffs on key British exports—from spirits to machinery—saving businesses over £400 million in the first year alone. It opens India’s vast procurement market to UK firms and enhances copyright protections for creative industries.
On Thursday, the UK also secured a first-of-its-kind Economic Prosperity Deal with the United States which has saved tens of thousands of jobs that would otherwise have been lost due to President Trump’s trade tariffs hike.
Tariffs on UK car exports to the US will now be slashed from 27.5% to 10% under a new trade deal, delivering a major boost to the automotive sector and saving hundreds of millions of pounds annually, particularly for manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover.
Steel exports, also previously under threat, will now enter the US tariff-free, safeguarding thousands of jobs in industrial communities such as
Scunthorpe.
In agriculture, the UK secures market access for 13,000 tonnes of beef exports and opens its market to US ethanol and beef under strict food standards that guarantees the UK will not be exposed to lower food standards such as hormone treated beef.
Ethanol, crucial for our industries, will come in cheaper. And while we have protected food standards and refused to budge on digital taxes, we have still laid the groundwork for even deeper cooperation on tech, data, and pharmaceuticals.
Both deals are about more than trade, they are about national renewal.
They deliver growth that can be felt across every corner of the country, supporting high-quality jobs, lowering costs for consumers, and giving businesses the confidence to invest.
They also show that the UK, under Labour’s leadership, can navigate global challenges with competence and vision, protecting our economy while promoting our values on the world stage.
In the coming weeks, the Government is hoping to improve our trading arrangements with the EU. For a long time, people in this country have felt like they are being left behind – like globalisation was something that happened to us, not for us. These trade deals feel different.
They are practical. They are strategic. And they are focused on growth that reaches working people.
This is a monthly guest column provided by
Mohammad Yasin, Labour MP for Bedford & Kempston.
It is published unedited and does not
reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
