Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will take the credit for a US trade deal hailed by Donald Trump as “a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come”. But behind the scenes much of the hard work was carried out by Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and a little-known civil servant who may have saved tens of thousands of jobs in the UK car industry.
Her name is Amanda Brooks, CBE. Ms Brooks was named Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Department for Business and Trade in February 2023. In this role, she leads the Department for Business and Trade’s negotiating teams as they attempt to secure free trade agreements across the world, including in the US.
She was educated at Durham University, studying politics and economics, before gaining a masters in business administration at Imperial College London. Early civil service roles included a glamorous three-year posting in Singapore as Deputy High Commissioner and Director for Trade and Investment before rising through the ranks in Whitehall with senior roles in the Department for Business and Department for International Trade, two departments which have now been merged to form the Department for Business & Trade.
She has been working on a US trade deal in various roles since November 2020, when she was appointed lead negotiator for the UK. Donald Trump was US President at the time, in his first term in office, but her role was to work with the administration of incoming US President Joe Biden on a deal. While those talks came to nothing, the agreement being confirmed by the White House and Number 10 today is expected to cut tariffs on UK vehicle exports to the US following warnings that the 25% charges announced by Mr Trump earlier this year could cost thousands of British jobs.
In her current role the Government says Ms Brooks “leads the Department for Business and Trade’s negotiating teams in securing free trade agreements. These aim to meet the government’s ambition for the UK’s future domestic and global prosperity.”
Others heavily involved in the trade deal include Peter Mandelson, the UK ambassador to the US. Keir Starmer’s business adviser Varun Chandra is also said to have played a key role.
Donald Trump has promised a “very big and exciting day” for US-UK relations as the two countries were set to agree a trade deal.
The US President earlier said there would be developments in trade talks with a “big and highly respected country”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is to say more on the deal later on Thursday, while Mr Trump has promised a press conference at 10am in Washington, 3pm UK time.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: “This should be a very big and exciting day for the United States of America and the United Kingdom.”
He added: “The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.
“Because of our long-time history and allegiance together, it is a great honour to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!”
Speaking to the London Defence Conference, Sir Keir said: “Talks with the US have been ongoing and you’ll hear more from me about that later today.
“But make no mistake, I will always act in our national interest, for workers, businesses and families, to deliver security and renewal for our country.”
The Government has been pursuing a deal with the US to reduce the impact of sweeping tariffs imposed by Mr Trump last month, which placed a 10% levy on all UK exports and a 25% charge on steel, aluminium and cars.
Ministers are expected to update MPs on talks with the US with a statement in the Commons.