SIR Keir Starmer has held “productive” trade talks with Donald Trump in the race to mitigate punishing US tariffs.
The PM spoke to the US President for the first time since he imposed the levies on UK goods heading Stateside.
ReutersSir Keir Starmer has held ‘productive’ trade talks with Donald Trump[/caption]
APStarmer is in a race to mitigate Trump’s punishing tariffs[/caption]
The US has put in place a baseline levy of ten per cent on all imports — with a 25 per cent duty on cars, aluminium and steel.
No 10 said: “The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to free and open trade and the importance of protecting the national interest.”
Yesterday’s talks came after White House officials said this week that a deal could be agreed within three weeks.
But Mr Trump revealed on Thursday that he was in “no rush” to put pen to paper.
He is threatening to hit British pharmaceuticals and medicines which would be a major setback with £8.8 billion heading Stateside from the UK in 2023.
He and Sir Keir also discussed Ukraine, Iran and the recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen, No 10 added.
Meanwhile, a poll by HSBC has found that three quarters of UK manufacturing and distribution companies say that the levies will hurt their business.
The sector fearing the biggest hit are the IT and telecommunications with 86 per cent saying they would be affected in some way.
Two thirds of all businesses say the uncertainty and raising of levies would hurt them in some way.
This rose to nearly eight in ten, some 79 per cent, of big firms with more than 250 staff.
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