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UK-US trade fair, No 10 says in face of tariff fears | UK-US trade fair, No 10 says in face of tariff fears |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The UK and US have a "fair and balanced trading relationship which benefits both sides of the Atlantic", Downing Street has said. | The UK and US have a "fair and balanced trading relationship which benefits both sides of the Atlantic", Downing Street has said. |
The comments come after US President Donald Trump imposed trade tariffs - taxes on goods imported from other countries - of 25% on neighbours Canada and Mexico, and threatened similar action against the EU. | The comments come after US President Donald Trump imposed trade tariffs - taxes on goods imported from other countries - of 25% on neighbours Canada and Mexico, and threatened similar action against the EU. |
Asked about the UK, Trump told the BBC the trade relationship has been "out of line" but could be "worked out". | Asked about the UK, Trump told the BBC the trade relationship has been "out of line" but could be "worked out". |
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Brussels for a meeting of EU leaders as part of an ongoing bid to "reset" relations, including exploring close ties on trade. | Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Brussels for a meeting of EU leaders as part of an ongoing bid to "reset" relations, including exploring close ties on trade. |
However, if the UK forges stronger links with the EU, that could anger the US and risk the UK getting caught up in a trade war. Similarly the EU might object to Sir Keir siding with the US rather than its European neighbours. | However, if the UK forges stronger links with the EU, that could anger the US and risk the UK getting caught up in a trade war. Similarly the EU might object to Sir Keir siding with the US rather than its European neighbours. |
Asked about the relationship with the US, No 10 said the prime minister trusts Trump and pointed to "a really constructive early set of conversations" between the two men. | Asked about the relationship with the US, No 10 said the prime minister trusts Trump and pointed to "a really constructive early set of conversations" between the two men. |
"We've got a fair and balanced trading relationship which benefits both sides of the Atlantic," the spokesman added. | "We've got a fair and balanced trading relationship which benefits both sides of the Atlantic," the spokesman added. |
"It's worth around £300bn and we are each other's single largest investors, with £1.2tn invested in each other's economies." | "It's worth around £300bn and we are each other's single largest investors, with £1.2tn invested in each other's economies." |
Following Trump's tariffs announcements over the weekend, European and Asian stock markets fell, with car manufacturers particularly badly hit. | Following Trump's tariffs announcements over the weekend, European and Asian stock markets fell, with car manufacturers particularly badly hit. |
The UK was also impacted but to a lesser effect than the EU. | The UK was also impacted but to a lesser effect than the EU. |
Analysis produced last year by the University of Sussex suggested the the UK could face a £22bn hit to exports if the US imposed a blanket 20% tariff on all imports. | Analysis produced last year by the University of Sussex suggested the the UK could face a £22bn hit to exports if the US imposed a blanket 20% tariff on all imports. |
The top goods exported from the UK to the US include cars, medicinal and pharmaceutical products and mechanical power generators. | The top goods exported from the UK to the US include cars, medicinal and pharmaceutical products and mechanical power generators. |
Trump believes imposing tariffs will help grow the US economy and protect jobs, however it could lead to consumers paying more as prices adjust to the taxes. | Trump believes imposing tariffs will help grow the US economy and protect jobs, however it could lead to consumers paying more as prices adjust to the taxes. |
On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the imposition of the 25% tariffs had been delayed after reaching an agreement with the US which would see her country deploy 10,000 troops to tackle drug trafficking into the US. | |
However, other countries responded angrily with Canada immediately announcing retaliatory tariffs of 25%. | |
French President Emmanuel Macron said that if EU interests were attacked, the trading bloc would have to "make itself respected and thus react". | French President Emmanuel Macron said that if EU interests were attacked, the trading bloc would have to "make itself respected and thus react". |
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: "There are no winners in trade wars." | EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: "There are no winners in trade wars." |
If there's a trade war with the US, "then the one laughing on the side is China", she added. | If there's a trade war with the US, "then the one laughing on the side is China", she added. |
Speaking on Sunday, Sir Keir was more cautious than his EU allies, saying: "It is early days. What I want to see is strong trading relations." | Speaking on Sunday, Sir Keir was more cautious than his EU allies, saying: "It is early days. What I want to see is strong trading relations." |
Asked if he would put tariffs on the UK, President Tump said: "UK is out of line but I'm sure that one... I think that one can be worked out." | Asked if he would put tariffs on the UK, President Tump said: "UK is out of line but I'm sure that one... I think that one can be worked out." |
He added that his discussions with the British prime minister had "been very nice" adding: "We've had a couple of meetings. We've had numerous phone calls. We're getting along very well." | He added that his discussions with the British prime minister had "been very nice" adding: "We've had a couple of meetings. We've had numerous phone calls. We're getting along very well." |
The UK wants to build stronger trade links with the US but also the EU which is part of the motivation for the prime minister's trip to Brussels. | The UK wants to build stronger trade links with the US but also the EU which is part of the motivation for the prime minister's trip to Brussels. |
The focus of the summit is defence, but the UK also wants to discuss easing restrictions on the trade of food and animal products and cooperation on emission trading schemes. | The focus of the summit is defence, but the UK also wants to discuss easing restrictions on the trade of food and animal products and cooperation on emission trading schemes. |
The mutual recognition of professional qualifications and allowing touring musicians to travel more easily are also areas of interest. | The mutual recognition of professional qualifications and allowing touring musicians to travel more easily are also areas of interest. |
The EU is keen to set up a youth mobility scheme, which would make it easier for young EU citizens to study and work in the UK and vice versa. However, ministers have so far rejected the idea. | The EU is keen to set up a youth mobility scheme, which would make it easier for young EU citizens to study and work in the UK and vice versa. However, ministers have so far rejected the idea. |
Downing Street has not ruled out joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which would allow tariff-free trade on some goods. | Downing Street has not ruled out joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which would allow tariff-free trade on some goods. |
The Conservatives have accused the government of "trying to reopen the divisions of the past and edge us back into the EU". | The Conservatives have accused the government of "trying to reopen the divisions of the past and edge us back into the EU". |
In contrast, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has been urging the government to negotiate a new UK-EU customs union, allowing tariff-free trade between the two sides. | In contrast, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has been urging the government to negotiate a new UK-EU customs union, allowing tariff-free trade between the two sides. |