Keir Starmer warns that the UK must avoid Trump’s import tariffs as he vows to boost US trade when president takes office for the second time
Britain must make sure it avoids attracting tariffs when Donald Trump retakes power in the US, Keir Starmer admitted today.
The Prime Minister vowed to boost business with America under the new leader, as he faced senior MPs today.
Trump has vowed to introduce a range of tariffs during his second term in the White House, including a 10-20 per cent levy on all goods imports.
There will also be higher tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, Canada and nations that retaliate with protective measures of their own.
It has sparked fears that the UK could be sucked into a trade war between the US and the EU, despite having left the latter.
Asked how he would dissuade Mr Trump from imposing tariffs on the UK, the Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee: ‘It won’t come as any surprise to you, I am not a fan of tariffs and, therefore, we have to make sure that we avoid tariffs.
‘We have got very good trade with the US, as we have got very good trade with other countries around the world. I want to improve on that.’
Sir Keir declined to give details of recent conversations with Mr Trump, but added: ‘Am I alive to the danger of tariffs? Yes of course. I’m against tariffs, but I’m not going to speculate as to what the incoming president might do.’
The Prime Minister vowed to boost business with America under the new leader, as he faced senior MPs today.
Trump has vowed to introduce a range of tariffs during his second term in the White House , including a 10-20 per cent levy on all goods imports.
Sir Keir Starmer said he rejected the suggestion that the UK would have to choose between a closer trade deal with the EU and a free trade agreement with the US.
The Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee: ‘I think we can pursue both. I don’t accept the argument you have got to either be with the US or be with the EU, that isn’t how it works at the moment with our current trade.
‘We do want a closer relationship with the EU on security, on defence, on energy and, yes, on trade, and I’ve set out how we want to reset on a number of occasions.
‘At the same time, I want to improve our trading relationship with the US. Is that going to be easy? Of course it’s not. Do I think we can make progress? Yes, I do.
‘And that’s among the reasons that I’m making sure we’ve got a good relationship with the incoming president and that the relationship between our two countries is as strong in the future as it has been in the past.’
