The US and UK have signed an agreement for a 10 per cent tariff on car imports

President Trump has officially signed an executive order giving the UK a more favourable 10 per cent tariff on car imports. Though, some bits and pieces are yet to be confirmed. More on that shortly.

In broad terms, the tariff applies to the first 100,000 British-made vehicles imported by the USA. Now ratified, carmakers can begin to undo the temporary suspensions of their shipments and send stuff across the Atlantic again. The sighs from JLR, counting the US as its biggest market, are especially audible.

"We welcome the signing of the UK-US deal," the carmaker told TopGear.com, "which gives a good level of relief from the steep and sudden US tariffs applied to the UK auto sector in April. We thank both governments and their teams for their work in bringing this deal about."

SMMT boss Mike Hawes said: “This is great news for the UK automotive industry, helping the sector avoid the severest level of tariffs and enabling many manufacturers to resume deliveries imminently.”

But it’s not all gravy yet. There are still details to be announced “in coming weeks” according to President Trump. They include confirmation of the tariff on steel and aluminium (a handshake agreement in principle is that the tariff will drop to zero). What’s more, EU vehicles – for example, the Mini Countryman built in Germany – will still be liable for the higher 25 per cent blanket tariff. Ouch.

Hawes added: “We wait to see the full details of the deal and how it will be administered but this will be a huge reassurance to those that work in the sector and bolster the confidence of our important US customers.

"The fact the UK has secured a deal, ahead of many competitors, and which makes automotive a priority, should be recognised as a significant achievement.”