### UK Pushes Forward with US Trade Talks Amid Legal Uncertainty Over Tariffs

British officials are advancing their trade negotiations with the United States despite a recent federal court ruling that overturned many of former President Donald Trump's tariffs. They are aiming to finalize agreements covering various sectors, including automobiles, metals, and aeroplane parts, within weeks.

A team of British negotiators spent last week in Washington discussing the implementation of a trade deal signed earlier this month. The focus was on how quickly the agreement could be ratified by both the UK Parliament and the US Congress.

This development comes even as an appeals court temporarily paused the federal court's decision on Trump's blanket 10% tariffs, allowing the tariffs to remain in effect while further review takes place. Downing Street believes that the Supreme Court, which is dominated by conservative judges, may eventually overturn the lower court's ruling.

A government source indicated that while some countries view the court ruling as a reason to avoid negotiating tariffs, the UK is taking the opposite approach. "We are working to get this deal implemented as soon as possible," the source said. A government spokesperson added, "The UK was the first country to secure a deal with the US to protect British businesses and jobs across key sectors, from autos to steel."

Earlier this month, President Trump announced the US-UK trade deal from the Oval Office, calling it "very special for the UK and special for the United States." However, the announcement caught Downing Street off guard, as some aspects of the deal were still being finalized. Under the agreement, British car companies will be allowed to export 100,000 vehicles per year at a 10% tariff rate, though details regarding cars assembled with parts from other countries remain unclear.

Following a court ruling that deemed many of Trump's tariffs illegal without Congressional approval, negotiations have continued as though the ruling does not apply. British officials expect that the Supreme Court will nullify the lower court's decision. Furthermore, Trump's unexpected announcement to double foreign tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 50% has added another layer of complexity to the talks.

The UK negotiating team, which includes Prime Minister's business adviser Varun Chandra and trade relations head Kate Joseph, spent considerable time last week discussing terms with key US officials. These discussions include US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who is advocating for increased access for US agricultural products to the UK market.

While officials hope to see car tariffs dropped within the next two weeks and a significant reduction in tariffs on British-made aeroplane parts, discussions on other sectors like pharmaceuticals are still ongoing. Additionally, the UK is nearing a £1.6bn trade deal with Gulf countries, although this agreement has faced criticism for lacking provisions on human rights, modern slavery, and environmental protections.