Starmer hints he’ll hit again at Trump as tariff battle intensifies | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has stated “all options are on the table” as Britain plans its response to Donald Trump imposing international tariffs on metal and aluminium.

While the European Union has already introduced it should introduce counter-measures on American items, the UK has resisted imposing speedy retaliatory motion towards the transfer.

But whereas the prime minister instructed Britain needs to hunt a carve-out from the tariffs with out partaking in a tit-for-tat commerce battle with the US, Sir Keir indicated retaliatory tariffs are being thought-about.

The prospect of the UK needing to impose its personal tariffs was raised after The Independent was informed by Trump administration insiders that hopes for a fast commerce deal will rely upon Sir Keir agreeing to cancel plans for on-line security laws – prone to be a compromise too far for the prime minister.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir stated: “I’m disenchanted to see international tariffs in relation to metal and aluminium. We will take a realistic method.”

The UK is “negotiating an financial deal which covers and can embody tariffs if we succeed,” he told MPs. “But we’ll hold all choices on the desk.”

It came after business secretary Jonathan Reynolds warned Britain “won’t hesitate to respond in the national interest” to the trade penalties.

The tariffs, which came into effect overnight, raise a flat duty on steel and aluminium entering America to 25 per cent.

The UK being subjected to a round of global tariffs by Mr Trump is a blow to Sir Keir and his new ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson.

At the press conference after their meeting in the White House last month, the US president praised the prime minister for “negotiating hard” on avoiding tariffs, while Lord Mandelson made preventing tariffs an early priority in his new role.

Nevertheless, Britain has been dragged into the US trade war despite claims from Brexiteers that leaving the EU would protect the UK from tariffs mainly aimed at the EU.

It leaves the UK outside the two main trading blocs of the EU and US with the potential threat of more tariffs.

According to well-placed sources within the Trump White House, the UK can get “a quick trade deal” but free speech issues raised by vice-president JD Vance with Sir Keir are likely to get in the way.

Mr Vance will be in charge of the US side of the talks and The Independent has been told he will be “prioritising” free speech amid anger over people being arrested for posting on social media and proposed online safety legislation which he sees as an assault on US tech companies.

Mr Vance is expected to demand the UK not only abandons plans for a new online law but also pushes back on current regulations as part of the talks.

Andrew Hale, a trade specialist at the influential right-wing Heritage Foundation who is close to the Trump administration, said: “The UK is now seen as a dystopian censorship state. There should be no free trade without free speech. Stop arresting people for social media posts.”

A source close to the Trump team added: “I could see a scenario where the UK does indeed get a rapid deal, but it won’t last very long if they don’t sort out the issues Vance referenced in the meeting with Starmer. The two-tier justice system clearly employed in the UK doesn’t sit well here.”

Meanwhile, Mr Trump confirmed that the US would seek to respond with more tariffs against the EU after it imposed retaliatory measures against his tariffs.

Meeting the Irish prime minister Micheal Martin in the Oval Office, Mr Trump accused Ireland of taking advantage of the US, along with the rest of the EU.

“The EU was set up in order to take advantage of the United States,” Mr Trump stated.

Mr Reynolds described the transfer to impose international tariffs as disappointing, however stated the UK is focussed on a “pragmatic method”.

He stated ministers are “rapidly negotiating a wider economic agreement with the US to eliminate additional tariffs” and “remain resolute in our support for UK industry”.

But the Liberal Democrats stated Britain is being “repeatedly kicked by the other side and doing nothing”. “That is not an effective negotiating position,” deputy chief Daisy Cooper stated.

She stated: “The business secretary needs to toughen up.

“Enough is enough. We must act from a position of strength, standing up for British steel and the UK economy through retaliatory measures.”

Brussels said counter-measures to the tariffs, which would affect around €26bn (£22bn) of EU exports, will be introduced in April “to defend European interests”.

UK officers have pressured the necessity for a “cool-headed approach” after last-ditch efforts to influence Mr Trump to spare British trade from his international tariffs failed.

But there may be rising stress on the federal government to comply with the EU’s method and bolster the UK’s commerce defences.

Gareth Stace, the director-general of commerce affiliation UK Steel, branded the Trump administration’s transfer “hugely disappointing”, and urged the federal government to take “decisive action” to guard the trade.

Meanwhile, Unite basic secretary Sharon Graham referred to as for metal to be “immediately designated as critical national infrastructure to properly protect it”.

Steelworkers union Community stated Britain should match any measures taken in response to the tariffs by the European Union “at a minimum”.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson made clear to reporters after PMQs that “all options are on the table” in responding to Mr Trump’s tariffs.

But he pressured that the federal government is “prioritising engagement with the United States to stand up for British industry and find a resolution”, quite than searching for to retaliate with tariffs.

Asked whether or not one of many choices being thought-about is withdrawing Mr Trump’s invite for a second state go to, Sir Keir’s spokesperson stated that was not being thought-about.

He added: “We are talking about our bilateral trade relations with the United States.”