Sophie Inge
@sophie-inge.bsky.social
Senior U.K. trade reporter @politico.eu 🇮🇹 and 🇫🇷 speaker. Owned by Cosimo de’ Medici the cat. Send tips: singe@politico.co.uk 🔥
The Burnham meeting with Team Biden that hints at his trade plans With the dream team Caroline Hug and @glanktree.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/andy...
The Burnham meeting with Team Biden that hints at his trade plans
The former mayor’s intervention offers one of the most revealing insights yet into his thinking on trade.
politico.eu
SCOOP: The United Arab Emirates wants Andy Burnham’s incoming government to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that goes beyond Britain’s newly minted, Gulf-wide agreement. www.politico.eu/article/uae-...
UAE pushes for bilateral trade deal with the UK
The ambassador said a bilateral deal would deepen cooperation in areas such as digital trade, financial services, AI and professional services.
politico.eu
The U.K. has agreed to lock in controversial intellectual property protections for pharmaceutical firms as part of a new trade deal with Switzerland. www.politico.eu/article/uk-c...
UK caves to pharma demands in Swiss trade deal — despite NHS cost fears
It marks the first time the U.K. has explicitly written drug patent rules into a free trade agreement.
politico.eu
SCOOP: The U.K.’s environment ministry is blocking the launch of trade talks with the South American Mercosur bloc over concerns the agreement could undercut British farmers. The story is available to read for POLITICO Pro subscribers here: pro.politico.eu/news/221561
POLITICO Pro
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SCOOP: U.K. plans to tackle illegal deforestation risk stoking U.S. trade tensions, with Washington expressing “strong concerns” about Britain adopting elements of the EU regime. www.politico.eu/article/uk-u...
Britain risks new rift with Washington over deforestation regulations
U.S. warns Britain against replicating the EU’s controversial regime.
politico.eu
Scoop: Northern Ireland caught in “messy middle” of U.K. and EU steel tariffs www.politico.eu/article/nort...
Northern Ireland caught in ‘messy middle’ of UK and EU steel tariffs
Firms lose “tens of millions” in business as they face two sets of charges.
politico.eu
On the evening of May 8, 2025, U.K. PM Keir Starmer got a surprise phone call from Donald Trump. One year on, the consequences of that conversation are still rippling through Britain’s arable heartlands.
One year on: The hidden impact of Trump’s trade deal with the UK
The consequences of the trade pact are still rippling through Britain’s arable heartlands.
politico.eu
British PM Keir Starmer has a plan to bring down food prices. Businesses aren’t buying it.
Don’t count on Starmer’s EU reset to bring down food prices
Many of the food and drink firms supposedly benefiting from the agreement are skeptical of the government’s claims.
politico.eu
Trade folk have known for years that the relationship between agreements and prices is tricky at best, and always suggest to politicians that they do not make promises that may well not be seen. Unfortunately UK politics in particular is addicted to the sugar of nice-sounding announcements.
POLITICO Europe@politico.eu · 3mo agoBritish PM Keir Starmer has a plan to bring down food prices. Businesses aren’t buying it.
Up until now, Britain’s mantra when dealing with the U.S.’s unpredictable, tariff-obsessed president has been to keep calm and carry on negotiating. That could be about to change. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/brit...
As the world frets over the prospect of another energy shock, Brits have zeroed in on a more niche concern: the fate of the great British pint. It’s a crisis with Donald Trump’s fingerprints all over it.
Trump deals double blow to the great British pint
The Iran war is putting pressure on carbon dioxide supplies needed to make beer after last year’s U.K.-U.S. trade deal was blamed for undercutting British plants producing the gas.
politico.eu
Donald Trump has threatened to unpick America’s trade deal with the U.K. amid increasing frustration over Britain’s opposition to military action against Iran.
Trump threatens to unpick trade deal over Starmer’s Iran war opposition
The U.S. president’s comments come as tempers flare in Washington over the U.K.’s stance on the conflict.
politico.eu
Anger as EU gets a ‘better trade deal’ with Australia than Brexit Britain www.politico.eu/article/ange...
Anger as EU gets a ‘better trade deal’ with Australia than Brexit Britain
British farmers are still furious that the U.K. didn’t take a harder line in its talks with Canberra.
politico.eu
Scoop: A pharma row between Switzerland and the U.K. risks derailing trade talks, with British officials concerned Swiss demands could push up NHS bills, two people with knowledge of the talks have told POLITICO. From me and my colleague Caroline Hug. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
UK-Swiss trade deal held up over pharma row
British government departments are split over the issue.
politico.eu
EXCLUSIVE: British truck drivers say they are at risk of losing their jobs because of impending EU border controls, as haulage firms scramble to adapt to the rules ahead of deadline.
Brexit Britain’s truckers bear the brunt of new EU border controls
For many British drivers who rely on frictionless travel to do their jobs, the new checks could spell disaster.
politico.eu
As U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer embarks on his Chinese charm offensive against a turbulent economic backdrop, he has opted for a softly-softly approach in a bid to warm up one of Britain’s most important trading partners.
Keir Starmer’s softly-softly approach ushers in new era of UK-China trade relations
Britain’s haul from the trip may be modest, but ministers insist there’s more to come.
politico.eu
Scoop: UK facing fresh calls for compensation over Brexit reset deal www.politico.eu/article/uk-g...
UK facing fresh calls for compensation over Brexit reset deal
Business owners fear border control facilities they have spent millions of pounds developing will be rendered redundant by the new agri-foods agreement.
politico.eu
British businesses that have plowed millions into border control facilities are demanding compensation from the U.K. government over its Brexit “reset” deal with the EU.
UK government faces fresh calls for compensation over Brexit ‘reset’ deal
Business owners fear border control facilities they have spent millions of pounds developing will be rendered redundant by the new agri-foods agreement.
politico.eu
As Trump threatens to raise tariffs on Britain over its stance on Greenland, his negotiators have also pressured the UK to accept the US standards regime. The move could upset London's "reset" with Brussels. Via @sophie-inge.bsky.social, me & Abby Wallace. www.politico.eu/article/dona...
Trump administration demands Britain adopt US standards in trade talks
The U.S. push would derail Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union.
politico.eu
Scandal-hit Fujitsu dropped from Brexit border system Via @sophie-inge.bsky.social and me www.politico.eu/article/post...
Scandal-hit Fujitsu dropped from Brexit border system
The move follows mounting public pressure to strip the Japanese tech firm of public contracts.
politico.eu
The UK-US trade deal isn’t done yet. Here’s what’s still on the table. With the dream team @glanktree.bsky.social Caroline Hug and Tom Bristow www.politico.eu/article/uk-u...
The UK-US trade deal isn’t done yet. Here’s what’s still on the table.
The U.K. managed to get Trump’s threatened pharma tariffs down from 100 percent to zero. Now they just have to get the rest of the deal wrapped up.
politico.eu
Trade folk (including myself) are unconvinced there is much of a growth dividend for Rachel Reeves from agreements with India, EU, and US. Just as there's no evidence of positive impact from independent UK trade policy since 2021. www.politico.eu/article/rach...
Rachel Reeves hopes trade deals can save Britain’s budget. Economists aren’t convinced.
With a difficult budget looming, the chancellor has increasingly turned her gaze overseas.
politico.eu
Off to Liverpool tomorrow for Labour Party conference. DM me if you want to chat trade policy over a watery coffee/warm white wine!
The U.K.'s trade deal with Donald Trump was touted as a post-Brexit win. The reality is the U.K. is facing higher tariffs than the EU on a number of products, including cheese. I spoke to cheddar and stilton makers about the challenges they're facing. www.politico.eu/article/what...
Brits cheesed off as Trump gives EU a better dairy deal
Cheesemakers exporting to the U.S. are sweating after the EU secured a better agreement on at least one front.
politico.eu
What Brexit benefit? Brits cheesed off as Trump gives EU a better dairy deal www.politico.eu/article/what...
Brits cheesed off as Trump gives EU a better dairy deal
Cheesemakers exporting to the U.S. are sweating after the EU secured a better agreement on at least one front.
politico.eu
Great to see my article mentioned during today's Foreign Affairs Committee session. EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds admits it's "very difficult" to see how the government can recover the £700m it has spent on Brexit border infrastructure. Watch it here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
Parliamentlive.tv
Foreign Affairs Committee
parliamentlive.tv
Britain’s EU meat and cheese ban is ‘toothless,’ MPs warn A new report warns that “alarming amounts” of meat and dairy products are still being illegally imported into the country. Via @sophie-inge.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/ille...
Britain’s EU meat and cheese ban is ‘toothless,’ MPs warn
A new report warns that “alarming amounts” of meat and dairy products are still being illegally imported into the country.
politico.eu
Debacle is the right word. UK governments between 2016 and 2024 lived in a fantasy world with regard to trade and EU relations that was damaging and expensive. This one is more realistic but has to pick up the pieces. www.politico.eu/article/brex...
‘Wasted time, effort and money’: Britain’s £800M Brexit border debacle
“White elephant” border inspection facilities face bleak future after U.K.-EU trade deal.
politico.eu
🚨🚨‘Wasted time, effort and money’: Britain’s £800M Brexit border debacle". If anyone forgot about it, this is a reminder of the still disastrous effects of #brexit that still brings misery and pain to Britain. 🧵 www.politico.eu/article/brex...
‘Wasted time, effort and money’: Britain’s £800M Brexit border debacle
“White elephant” border inspection facilities face bleak future after U.K.-EU trade deal.
politico.eu
