Donald Trump and Keir Starmer discuss 'productive negotiations' over tariffs
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said earlier this week the UK would not be "jumping into" a trade war with the US.
Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump discussed “productive negotiations” towards a UK-US economic prosperity deal and agreed these will “continue at pace” in a phone call, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister is understood to have put “plans in place” to punish the US president if he includes Britain in his raid on global imports planned for Wednesday. A Downing Street source said UK negotiators are approaching last-ditch talks to secure a carve-out for Britain with “cool calm heads” but are prepared to deploy “sharp teeth” if needed.
A No10 spokesman said: “The President opened by wishing His Majesty the King best wishes and good health.
“They discussed the productive negotiations between their respective teams on a UK-US economic prosperity deal, agreeing that these will continue at pace this week.Discussing Ukraine, the Prime Minister updated the President on the productive discussions at the meeting of the Coalition of Willing in Paris this week. The leaders agreed on the need to keep up the collective pressure on Putin. They agreed to stay in touch in the coming days.”
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
The UK’s discussions with the US over exemptions from Mr Trump’s tariffs are “intense”, Yvette Cooper has said.
But there are growing fears that a pact may not be struck before Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” kicks in. The Home Secretary’s comments on Sunday came days before the White House goes ahead with a 25% tax on car imports and threats of wider tariffs on other goods on 2 April. Ms Cooper said US tariffs could harm the entire world’s economy.
When asked by Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme how damaging she thought the tariffs could be, the Home Secretary said: “In the end, if you increase barriers to trade right across the world, that’s not good for the world economy, let alone any individual country as part of that.
“So that’s why our approach to this has been to try and seek new trade agreements across the world, including improving our trading relationship with the EU as well as with the US.”
Ms Cooper reiterated the Prime Minister’s message that “no option is off the table”, when it comes to responding to the tariffs.
Discussions with the US over exemptions from the levy are “intense”, she said.
Ms Cooper added: “We obviously can’t keep a running commentary on different discussions that are taking place, but we have to always make sure that we’re acting in the national interest.”
The Prime Minister said this week that his Government was involved in ongoing discussions with the White House aimed at “mitigating the impact” of any levies but that ultimately “our national interest has to come first”.
The US is the second largest export market after the European Union for cars built in the UK.
Jaguar Land Rover could be one of the UK vehicle manufacturers most affected by tariffs.
Some 16.9% of UK car exports were to the US last year, representing a total of more than 101,000 units worth £7.6 billion.
Ministers have said they will take a pragmatic approach towards the threat of tariffs, seeking to strengthen transatlantic trade ties and pursue a wider UK-US economic deal.
The Tories have stressed the need to secure a trade deal with the US to protect against the impact of tariffs.
