Downing Street has confirmed that talks with the United States over a major tech partnership are still ongoing, even though progress has slowed.
The Technology Prosperity Deal, first announced during former President Donald Trump’s visit in September, aims to strengthen collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. US officials, however, have raised concerns about UK trade barriers, leading to a temporary slowdown in negotiations.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister emphasized that the discussions are “live” and added that agreements of this scale are rarely simple. The New York Times reported broader disagreements over digital regulations and food safety, but both the UK government and the White House have declined to comment.
When the deal was unveiled, UK leaders highlighted its potential benefits. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described it as a “generational step change” in UK-US relations. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the partnership demonstrates confidence in Britain’s growing AI sector and could “transform lives across the country.”
Alongside the announcement, major US tech companies—including Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia—pledged £31 billion in investment in the UK. This funding will support the expansion of AI infrastructure, including new data centers. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called the UK a potential “AI superpower,” reflecting the government’s vision. These investment plans appear unaffected by the negotiation delays.
