The UK’s recent trade deals with India and the US are the first strategically significant deals to show the UK’s approach to trade in a post-Brexit world. They also highlight quite different approaches to negotiations.
The Indian deal is the result of a more traditional approach. Three years of detailed negotiations resulting in a deal that the UK government says will increase trade between the two countries by more than £25 billion by 2040.
The deal with the US took a slightly different format. Although long-running discussions were taking place, the deal was heavily shaped by the context of Trump’s ‘Independence Day’ — when he broke from long-established trading norms imposing unilateral tariffs — and was short on detail but long on superlatives.
Given the size of UK trade with the two countries, they will, despite those differences, have significant impact. We asked a few tech leaders for their thoughts.
The impact on tech and innovation
There were positive remarks about the potential for closer working in the tech and innovation sectors.
Referring to the UK-India deal, Zaki Farooq, CTO and Co-Founder of PayFuture, welcomed it, saying it was “a catalyst for deeper economic integration between two of the world’s most dynamic economies.”
He went on to point out the opportunities such deals created. “The reduction in tariffs and expanded access to sectors like services and procurement offer meaningful opportunities not just for major exporters but also for SMEs looking to scale internationally,” he said.
Even businesses with a UK focus, like public sector AI platform provider ICS.AI, could benefit. “Better hardware access means we can improve the technology that local councils, healthcare providers, and education institutions actually rely on daily,” said ICS.AI’s co-founder, Martin Neale. “If this deal helps us build better AI tools that make government services more efficient and accessible to citizens, then it’s meaningful.”
The benefits of better cooperation
Much of the focus on trade agreements since Trump’s unilateral imposition of tariffs has focused on tariff levels. However, often non-tariff barriers, which can include anything from limits on imports to practical issues that slow the flow of trade, can be even more important: a 0% tariff is meaningless if other barriers make export impossible.
Neale was one who picked up on the importance of better cooperation that these deals signal. “The cooperation on emerging tech isn’t just diplomatic fluff,” he said. “For a specialised UK AI company like ours, it potentially means more clarity and consistency in how AI is regulated across borders—something every AI developer desperately needs right now.”
Farooq highlighted India’s upcoming Payment Cross Border Authorisation licence requirements, and the increasing importance of regulatory compliance. Trading agreements helped smooth cross-border financial flows, Farooq said. “We see this as a positive step toward building trust and interoperability across markets, and we’re actively preparing to meet these requirements to ensure uninterrupted service for our partners.”
Fuel Ventures founder Mark Pearson, was positive about the opportunities the deal would create. “The UK-US trade deal is a win for UK startups. It’s not just about smoother trade, it’s about opening the door to an exciting market,” he said. “For UK founders, this deal means fewer hoops to jump through when expanding stateside. They’ll get easier access to new customers, and potential partners, and a chance to really scale up. The US loves innovation, and UK startups have the creativity and grit to thrive there. This deal just makes it that much easier to dive in.”
The waters might not always be smooth for international traders, though. Trump has made no secret of his intent to be a disruptor, even in areas like trade. Georgina O’Toole, TechMarketView’s chief analyst, cautioned that, “tech providers should continue preparing clients for a trading environment characterised by unpredictability, with investment strategies focused on supply chain flexibility, geographic diversification, and rapid adaptability.”
The economic reality behind the political optics
Both deals were significant for the UK as it seeks to establish itself globally with its own post-Brexit trading arrangements. For Trump, the deal was heralded as a sign his approach to deal-making was working.
This is an area where the jury still seems to be out on the American deal, where the final details are still to be agreed. ICS.AI’s Neale suggested that the true test of the agreement is the difference it makes.
“What matters isn’t the trade announcement,” Neale said, “but whether it tangibly helps public services work better for ordinary people. That’s the actual measure of success. If it’s just political posturing, then it changes nothing for the frontline staff and citizens using our technology.”
O’Toole also struck a note of caution. “What we’re witnessing is not the comprehensive trade deal initially proclaimed, but rather a limited relief measure from Trump’s broader protectionist agenda,” she said. “This is not a transformative agreement but a temporary accommodation that leaves UK businesses and technology investors still navigating significant trade uncertainty.”
The fact remains that world trade is still reshaping itself after Trump’s Independence Day. While deals like this will have an impact on the UK, on a global level, many major players, like the EU and China, are yet to make their moves. “Our trade ‘deal’ is a bit of a side show,” said O’Toole. “Without positive movement on the US-China position, little has materially changed.”
