Keir Starmer places US commerce deal in jeopardy by ‘taking part in footsie’ with EU | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned he can be responsible of an “epic fail” if India wins a commerce cope with the US forward of the UK. Andrew Griffith, the Shadow Business and Trade Secretary, blasted the Prime Minister for chasing a brand new buying and selling relationship with the European Union as a substitute of clearing away limitations with the US.

Hopes of putting a speedy cope with the US have been dealt a blow, with the White House allegedly treating the UK as a second-order precedence. The UK has reportedly did not make it into the primary section of negotiations that the Trump administration will pursue, with officers reportedly centered on nailing down offers with Asian international locations.

US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent stated international locations equivalent to India, South Korea and Japan “have been the most forthcoming” of their readiness to make offers.

Mr Griffith instructed the Express: “If Britain is beaten to a US trade deal by India, this will be another epic fail by Labour. Starmer’s busy playing footsie with Brussels whilst other nations get deals done with the world’s largest economy and our closest ally.

“He was slow to act, lost our chief negotiator and, like most of his Cabinet, spent years insulting Trump. Britain deserves better.”

South Korea is on the prime of the checklist of nations the US desires to finalise offers with, The Guardian reported. It just isn’t recognized whether or not the UK can be in section two or three of the US commerce negotiations.

British officers had hoped to safe a deal by May 19. However, there may be concern talks with the US might change into tougher if the UK agrees new buying and selling preparations with European Union within the meantime.

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt stated the Prime Minister and the US president ought to “get a move on”.

She stated: “If I were the US, I’d want to get a deal done fast … Our Government have not given us any assurances on regulation and if an EU deal sucks us back into its regulatory orbit, then we and the US won’t be able to do an ambitious deal.”

The White House may demand that the UK settle for chlorinated rooster. It has blasted British meals security requirements, accusing the UK of getting “non-science-based standards that severely restrict US exports of safe, high-quality beef and poultry products”.

Britain will even come beneath stress from Commonwealth ally Canada – which has been hit with US tariffs – to face as much as the US. New Canadian prime minister and former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has condemned the “American betrayal” and stated “one would assume” his nation and the UK can agree a commerce deal of their very own.

Callum Price, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, urged the PM to get on with tearing down commerce limitations.

He stated: “The good news for the Prime Minister is that he does not need Trump to boost trade, he can do it himself. Many of the barriers to trade are self-imposed, and can be removed unilaterally.

“The UK can reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers without the permission of the president, and we should. This would cut costs for consumers and businesses and boost our economy.

“If Starmer can then persuade Trump that the UK is open for business on top of that, then that’s an additional win too.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir was pressed to offer MPs a vote on any commerce deal.

He stated: “We are in negotiations with the US in relation to a deal. We will act obviously in the national interest to make sure that if there is a deal, it is the right deal for this country.”