As the UK scrambles to secure an exemption from devastating US tariffs, Keir Starmer must take a strong stance against Donald Trump to protect British interests.
Keir Starmer Urged to Get Tough with Trump as US Tariff Threat Looms
The UK is in a last-ditch effort to secure an exemption from swingeing import taxes imposed by the ‘US’ . The government is seeking an exemption to the car tariffs and the wider package of measures that Donald Trump is drawing up for next week as part of its plan for a US-UK “economic prosperity deal”.
Down to the Wire: Inside the UK’s Crunch Talks with the ‘US’
Ministers are holding talks with US counterparts this weekend in a bid to secure a carve-out from the tariffs. The government sources said that ministers were raising Donald Trump’s looming tariffs as the “No 1” issue in every conversation with the ‘US’ .
The United States has a long history of using tariffs to protect domestic industries and promote economic growth.
President Donald Trump has leveraged this tool extensively, implementing tariffs on over $360 billion worth of imported goods since 2018.
The main targets have been 'China' , with tariffs ranging from 7.5% to 25%, and the 'European Union' , with tariffs up to 25%.
The impact is felt across various sectors, including steel, aluminum, and electronics.
Critics argue that these tariffs lead to higher prices for consumers and disrupt global supply chains.
The ‘US’ has announced a 25% tariff on car imports, which would hit British carmakers such as Bentley and Aston Martin. The UK is one of four countries engaged in intensive negotiations to secure exemptions before the deadline.
A Balanced Trading Relationship
UK officials and ministers are hammering home the point that the trading relationship between the ‘US’ and UK is balanced. The ‘US’ is the single largest individual-country trading partner for the UK, worth almost £300bn a year. In 2023, the UK imported £57.9bn of goods from the ‘US’, and exported £60.4bn the other way – including car exports worth £6.4bn.
A High-Stakes Game
The government is concentrated on securing a deal, but has not ruled out retaliatory tariffs. Keir Starmer said that the UK “reserves the right to respond” to ‘US’ tariffs next week, saying, “our national interest has to come first”. The concern is that the government may have offered up big concessions to the ‘US’ unnecessarily, when Trump’s package of tariffs is set to be narrower than feared.
Keir Starmer is a British politician who has been serving as the leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition since April 2020.
Born on September 2, 1962, in Southwark, London, he studied law at the University of Leeds and later became a barrister specializing in human rights law.
Starmer was first elected to Parliament in 2015 as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras.
He previously served as the Shadow Brexit Secretary and has been a vocal critic of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
A Delicate Balance
The talks are taking place as the UK tries to navigate its trade dealings with the ‘US’ . There are signs that difficult sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues are coming up again, including allowing US farmers to sell chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef to UK consumers.
The US-UK trade negotiations refer to the ongoing talks between the United States and the United Kingdom to establish a new trade agreement.
The UK's departure from the European Union (Brexit) created a need for new trade agreements with other countries, including the US.
The negotiations aim to reduce tariffs, increase trade in services, and promote economic cooperation between the two nations.
Key areas of discussion include agriculture, digital trade, and regulatory issues.
The talks have been ongoing since 2020, with both sides seeking mutually beneficial terms.
- theguardian.com | Keir Starmer urged to get tough with Trump as US tariff threat looms
- theguardian.com | Down to the wire: inside the UKs crunch talks with the US as it bids ...
