Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have mentioned “productive negotiations” in the direction of a UK-US economic prosperity deal in a cellphone name, Downing Road mentioned, as fears develop the UK could also be landed with damaging US tariffs.
The pair agreed that negotiations will “proceed at tempo” within the Sunday evening name, which got here after home secretary Yvette Cooper warned that “no possibility is off the desk” when it comes to a British response to any US tariffs.
Downing Road is attempting to negotiate an exemption from tariffs on all imports into the US, in talks which Ms Cooper described as “intense”.
Mr Trump earlier this week introduced a 25 per cent import tax on all vehicles arriving within the US, a measure which can hit British luxurious carmakers together with Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. A reciprocal set of tariffs is already set to return into impact on April 2, which can contain a normal 20 per cent tax on UK merchandise in response to the speed of VAT.
Sir Keir has left the door open to retaliatory tariffs, promising to “act within the nationwide curiosity” and “leaving the whole lot on the desk”.
Trump opened Sunday evening’s cellphone name by wishing King Charles “good well being”, a Downing Road spokesperson mentioned, after the royal was lately hospitalised because of the unwanted side effects from his most cancers therapy.
They then mentioned the “productive negotiations between their respective groups on a UK-US financial prosperity deal, agreeing that these will proceed at tempo this week”.
However the UK authorities has publicly criticised the Trump administration’s widespread tariffs on nations all over the world.
Talking on Sky Information’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, Ms Cooper mentioned: “Ultimately, for those who enhance limitations to commerce proper internationally, that’s not good for the world financial system, not to mention any particular person nation as a part of that.
“In order that’s why our strategy to this has been to try to search new commerce agreements internationally, together with enhancing our buying and selling relationship with the EU, in addition to with the US.”
Discussions with the US over exemptions from the levy are “intense”, Ms Cooper mentioned, including: “We clearly can’t maintain a operating commentary on completely different discussions which are happening, however we have now to all the time be sure that we’re appearing within the nationwide curiosity.”
After Mr Trump confirmed 25 per cent tariffs on imported automobiles, a extremely positioned supply informed The Unbiased’s political editor David Maddox that “negotiations grew to become a lot more durable” for the UK.
One other supply mentioned that tariffs “look inevitable now” following the controversial transfer by Washington.
Sir Keir is being urged by the Worldwide Chambers of Commerce (ICC) to undertake a commerce plan which could unlock £250bn in economic growth and financial savings, even when the UK is hit with direct US tariffs.
The ICC says the plan would unlock billions in funding by scrapping outdated paper-based programs.
In Sunday’s cellphone name between Downing Road and Washington, the 2 leaders additionally mentioned the Ukraine battle. Since Keir Starmer visited Washington in late February, the pair have stored involved concerning a ceasefire deal in Ukraine.
“Discussing Ukraine, the Prime Minister up to date the President on the productive discussions on the assembly of the Coalition of Prepared in Paris this week. The leaders agreed on the necessity to sustain the collective strain on Putin,” Downing Road mentioned.
“They agreed to remain in contact within the coming days.”
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