Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out retaliating against Donald Trump’s tariff threats, with No10 declaring: “Nothing is off the table”.
President Trump threatened to impose a 15 per cent global tariff “effective immediately” after the Supreme Court overturned his previous import taxes policy in a ruling last week.
It triggered condemnation from the British Chambers of Commerce, which warned the change would mean an extra five per cent increase in tariffs on a “wide range” of exports to America, except those covered under a transatlantic trade deal.
Downing Street said today it is having “productive conversations” with the US over the tariff threats, but left open the possibility that the UK could impose reciprocal trade levies on American goods and services.
Asked about what steps the Government planned to take in response to the US President, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Our approach to the US has always been pragmatic.
“We continue to have productive conversations with them…and those discussions are happening at all levels, but nothing is off the table at this stage.
“Industry doesn’t want to see a trade war where both sides keep escalating the situation, and that’s why our focus is on constructive engagement with our US counterparts to retain the UK’s competitive advantage.”
