Sir Keir Stamer has ruled out getting into any “tariff war” with America as the government are “negotiating” an economic deal and an “agreement” with Washington.
The European Union and Canada are on the verge of a full-scale trade war with the US President, but the Prime Minister has said he will remain “pragmatic” in his approach to Trump.
However, Starmer said that all options remain on the table, and he is hoping to secure a deal that the US administration will exempt the UK from tariffs, despite the UK having already been hit with 25% levies on aluminium and steel which risks many jobs.
The Prime Minister said, “Obviously I’m disappointed to see tariffs, global tariffs, in relation to steel and aluminium.
“But I’m going to take a pragmatic response to this, because we are negotiating and talking about an economic deal and agreement as we speak.”
Starmer added that “of course, in the end, all options are on the table, but my response is to keep my feet on the ground, to be pragmatic, to keep ensuring that we keep our eyes on the prize.”
“The prize is not a tariff war, which I don’t think is going to be in our interests.
“The prize is an economic agreement or deal, if we can reach that, that actually covers tariffs and much more besides.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told MPs, “I do think we can look to the opportunity the UK has, which is greater than any other country, to get to an agreement that improves our terms for trade with the US.”
Reynolds is set to travel to the US next week and he has made a “strong case” for the UK to be exempt on British metal tariffs.
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