Starmer Races to Secure Trade Deal and Avoid Trump’s Tariffs

[Social Media]

 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scrambling to secure an economic agreement with President Trump before the end of the month to prevent sweeping tariffs that could undermine efforts to boost the British economy. With the US imposing global tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminium imports on Wednesday, industry leaders in the UK have warned that the measures will be “hugely damaging.”  

 

Despite attempts to negotiate an exemption during a phone call with Trump earlier this week, Starmer was unsuccessful in persuading the US president to spare Britain from the tariffs. Nevertheless, the prime minister has decided against imposing retaliatory tariffs, unlike the European Union, amid concerns that such a move could jeopardize the prospect of a broader economic deal with Washington.  

 

Trump is preparing to extend the tariffs, with a 25 percent levy on imports from countries that impose VAT on US goods, which includes the UK. These “reciprocal tariffs” are expected to take effect on April 1. Speaking in the Oval Office during a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Wednesday, Trump made his stance clear. “We’ve been abused for a long time, and we will be abused no longer,” he said. “I am not happy with the European Union. We’re going to win that financial battle.”  

 

Last month, during Starmer’s visit to the White House, Trump indicated that Britain could be granted an exemption if a deal on artificial intelligence and other critical technologies could be reached. Now, with the April 1 deadline—dubbed “World Tariff Day” in Whitehall—rapidly approaching, the UK is intensifying efforts to strike a deal.  

 

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will travel to Washington next week for talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Government sources remain optimistic, citing similarities in the UK and US approaches to artificial intelligence. While the EU is pushing for strict regulations on AI, the UK has opted for a more flexible approach, relying on voluntary commitments from tech firms.  

 

Starmer sees AI as a key driver of economic growth and has held off on introducing AI regulation legislation pending the outcome of the negotiations. The government is hopeful that this stance will align with US priorities and pave the way for a deal.  

 

The EU, by contrast, responded to the steel tariffs by announcing countermeasures targeting €26 billion worth of US goods, including bourbon, motorbikes, and industrial and agricultural products. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the decision, stating, “The European Union must act to protect consumers and business. The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate.”  

 

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer said that Britain would take a “pragmatic approach” to dealing with the White House. “I am disappointed to see global tariffs in relation to steel and aluminium, but we will take a pragmatic approach,” he told MPs. “We are, as he knows, negotiating an economic deal which covers and will include tariffs if we succeed. But we will keep all options on the table.”  

 

However, government insiders suggest that the UK is unlikely to retaliate against the US. Instead, officials are focusing on measures to prevent an influx of cheap steel, originally destined for the American market, from being “dumped” in the UK, further destabilizing the domestic steel industry.  

A Whitehall source claimed that Britain is in a “much better place” than the EU when it comes to negotiations. “They don’t have any cards to play,” the source said. “We do.” The strained relationship between Trump and the EU is another factor, with the US president previously asserting that the European bloc was designed to “screw the United States.”  

 

James Murray, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, urged caution, telling Times Radio that ministers must remain “cool-headed.” “We think that the best way for the UK to respond is with a cool-headed, pragmatic, productive response working with the US, whilst at the same time making absolutely clear that we will stand up for British industry and all options are on the table,” he said.  

 

With time running out, Starmer’s government is working urgently to secure a deal that would shield the UK from Trump’s sweeping tariffs while maintaining a strong economic relationship with the US.

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-03-15

 

 

[spidermike007]

Many of us thought that Trump was unhinged, unstable and at least partially insane, but the last two months have proven that theory to a startling degree. His latest threats to put a 200% tariff on imported wine from Europe is so spectacularly dumb, so phenomenally ignorant, and so devoid of reason and common sense.

 

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scrambling to secure an economic agreement with President Trump before the end of the month to prevent sweeping tariffs that could undermine efforts to boost the British economy. With the US imposing global tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminium imports on Wednesday, industry leaders in the UK have warned that the measures will be “hugely damaging.”  

 

Despite attempts to negotiate an exemption during a phone call with Trump earlier this week, Starmer was unsuccessful in persuading the US president to spare Britain from the tariffs. Nevertheless, the prime minister has decided against imposing retaliatory tariffs, unlike the European Union, amid concerns that such a move could jeopardize the prospect of a broader economic deal with Washington.  

 

Trump is preparing to extend the tariffs, with a 25 percent levy on imports from countries that impose VAT on US goods, which includes the UK. These “reciprocal tariffs” are expected to take effect on April 1. Speaking in the Oval Office during a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Wednesday, Trump made his stance clear. “We’ve been abused for a long time, and we will be abused no longer,” he said. “I am not happy with the European Union. We’re going to win that financial battle.”  

 

Last month, during Starmer’s visit to the White House, Trump indicated that Britain could be granted an exemption if a deal on artificial intelligence and other critical technologies could be reached. Now, with the April 1 deadline—dubbed “World Tariff Day” in Whitehall—rapidly approaching, the UK is intensifying efforts to strike a deal.  

 

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will travel to Washington next week for talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Government sources remain optimistic, citing similarities in the UK and US approaches to artificial intelligence. While the EU is pushing for strict regulations on AI, the UK has opted for a more flexible approach, relying on voluntary commitments from tech firms.  

 

Starmer sees AI as a key driver of economic growth and has held off on introducing AI regulation legislation pending the outcome of the negotiations. The government is hopeful that this stance will align with US priorities and pave the way for a deal.  

 

The EU, by contrast, responded to the steel tariffs by announcing countermeasures targeting €26 billion worth of US goods, including bourbon, motorbikes, and industrial and agricultural products. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the decision, stating, “The European Union must act to protect consumers and business. The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate.”  

 

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer said that Britain would take a “pragmatic approach” to dealing with the White House. “I am disappointed to see global tariffs in relation to steel and aluminium, but we will take a pragmatic approach,” he told MPs. “We are, as he knows, negotiating an economic deal which covers and will include tariffs if we succeed. But we will keep all options on the table.”  

 

However, government insiders suggest that the UK is unlikely to retaliate against the US. Instead, officials are focusing on measures to prevent an influx of cheap steel, originally destined for the American market, from being “dumped” in the UK, further destabilizing the domestic steel industry.  

A Whitehall source claimed that Britain is in a “much better place” than the EU when it comes to negotiations. “They don’t have any cards to play,” the source said. “We do.” The strained relationship between Trump and the EU is another factor, with the US president previously asserting that the European bloc was designed to “screw the United States.”  

 

James Murray, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, urged caution, telling Times Radio that ministers must remain “cool-headed.” “We think that the best way for the UK to respond is with a cool-headed, pragmatic, productive response working with the US, whilst at the same time making absolutely clear that we will stand up for British industry and all options are on the table,” he said.  

 

With time running out, Starmer’s government is working urgently to secure a deal that would shield the UK from Trump’s sweeping tariffs while maintaining a strong economic relationship with the US.

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-03-15

 

 

Difficult job, Keith. But I'm sure you'll make it.👍

[BritManToo]

15 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Many of us thought that Trump was unhinged, unstable and at least partially insane, but the last two months have proven that theory to a startling degree. His latest threats to put a 200% tariff on imported wine from Europe is so spectacularly dumb, so phenomenally ignorant, and so devoid of reason and common sense.

Look on the bright side,

You won't be complaining about the price of wine in Thailand any more!

 

Back to the  OP,

I didn't think the UK made steel or aluminum any more.

[sammieuk1]

The one good thing Sir Multi Tier Keir could have done is stick the nut on him and said it was greetings from Glasgow🤔

[candide]

The problem is that, since Brexit, UK cannot be a useful troyan horse in the EU any more. So not so much value for the U.S.