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Elected officials have raised concerns that the United Kingdom's series of deals with Washington are "built on sand." This stems from revelations that a so-called "milestone" deal on medicines, which promises zero tariffs in exchange for the NHS paying more, lacks any underlying contract beyond limited headline terms published in government press releases.

An Agreement in Principle Only

The US-UK pharmaceuticals agreement, described as a "generational" achievement, is still an "broad understanding" without detailed provisions. Critics have noted that the press releases from the UK and US governments describe the deal in divergent terms. The British version focuses on securing "duty-free access" as a singular success, while the American announcement highlights the commitment for the NHS to pay higher prices for new medications.

"We face a genuine possibility that the UK government has promised concessions to raise drug prices in return for little more than a verbal promise from President Trump," stated David Henig, a trade policy analyst. "History shows he has form for not keeping promises."

A Pattern of Unreliability

Worries have been intensified by Washington's recent decision to pause the major technology agreement, which was previously heralded as "a huge leap forward" in the bilateral relationship. The US cited a lack of progress from the UK on reducing other tariffs as the reason for the pause.

Furthermore, concessions agreed to for British farmers as part of an May trade agreement have yet to be formally approved by the US, despite a fast-approaching January deadline. "Our understanding is that the US has not finalized the reciprocal tariff rate quota," said Tom Bradshaw of the National Farmers' Union.

Anxiety Behind Closed Doors

Privately, ministers have expressed concerns that the government's deals with Washington are lacking substance. One minister described the series of agreements as "resting on shaky ground," while another framed the situation as the "current reality" in the transatlantic relationship, marked by "increased uncertainty and instability."

Layla Moran, chair of the health select committee, stated: "The only thing more surprising than Trump's temper tantrums is the UK government's naive belief that his administration is a good faith actor. The NHS is too precious to be gambled with."

Government Downplays Risks, Points to Gains

Ministry sources have sought to reduce the risk of the US withdrawing from the pharmaceuticals deal. One source indicated the US pharmaceutical industry itself had been lobbying for the agreement, seeking certainty on imports and pricing, making it less abstract than the paused tech deal.

Officials concede that volatility is a feature of dealing with the Trump administration. However, they argue that the UK has achieved real benefits for businesses, such as lower steel tariffs compared to other nations. "The fact we have 25% steel tariffs, which is lower than the rate for the rest of the world, is a solid gain," one official said.

Nevertheless, delays have arisen in carrying out the May tariff agreement. Promised quotas on beef exports have not materialized, and the assurance to "reduce steel tariffs to zero" has is still pending, with tariffs remaining at 25%.

Looking ahead, the two sides have scheduled to restart talks on the suspended digital agreement in January, following what were described as "constructive" meetings between UK and US officials in Washington.