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Donald Trump has instructed that the UK would possibly escape punitive US tariffs, though he mentioned Britain was “way out of line” and that he was contemplating whether or not to focus on its exports.
The US president advised reporters: “The UK is way out of line, and we’ll see. But the European Union is really out of line.
“UK is out of line but I’m sure that one, I think that one can be worked out. But the European Union, it’s an atrocity what they’ve done.”
Trump went on to say that he had developed a very good early working relationship with Sir Keir Starmer, UK prime minister.
“Prime Minister Starmer has been very nice,” he mentioned. “We’ve had a couple of meetings, we’ve had numerous phone calls, we’re getting along very well.”
The US president’s feedback got here after he imposed tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico, triggering a worldwide sell-off in shares and sending the US greenback greater.
Starmer has put nice emphasis on the rapport he believes he has established with Trump, notably at a dinner at Trump Tower final September earlier than the US elections.
However Downing Avenue officers admitted they don’t know if Trump will hit the UK with tariffs, with one saying it was “early days”.
Starmer will journey to Brussels on Monday for talks with EU leaders, conscious that his try and “reset” relations with the bloc after Brexit dangers antagonising Trump.
His journey to an off-the-cuff European Council assembly — the primary such assembly involving a UK premier since Brexit — will concentrate on safety and defence co-operation.
Starmer desires improved commerce relations with the EU and can also be in search of to deepen commerce co-operation with the US, notably within the discipline of providers and know-how.
He’s additionally planning to go to China later within the yr, insisting Britain can and should pursue heat relations with every of the world’s strongest economies.
Final yr, Starmer advised a Metropolis of London viewers: “The idea that we must choose between our allies — that somehow we’re with either America or Europe — is plain wrong. I reject it utterly.”
In response to US figures, America ran an total commerce surplus with the UK in 2023, amounting to $14.5bn. That places Britain in a beneficial place as Trump threatens nations with vital deficits.
Nonetheless, the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics stories that the UK ran a commerce surplus with the US of £71.4bn, or about $89bn, in 2023.
“Using America’s own trade data provides a shared and strong foundation when engaging in discussions with our American friends,” joked one senior British official. Starmer is anticipated to go to Washington later this month.
