U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal Hits Stumbling Block

When Britain became the first country to reach a trade agreement with President Trump in May, critics warned that the terms were loose and the commitments vague. Now, the risks of that ambiguity are becoming apparent. The United States informed the British government this month that it would pause fulfilling a technology-related agreement between the two countries, which included more collaboration on artificial intelligence and nuclear energy, according to two people familiar with the decision who were not authorized to speak publicly. The move came because American officials felt that Britain wasn't making sufficient progress in lowering trade barriers, as promised in the May trade agreement, the people said. Earlier this year, when Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain was courting Mr. Trump to avoid punitive trade tariffs, he delivered an invitation from King Charles for a state visit.