SIR KEIR Starmer insisted he can keep Donald Trump onside and seek closer ties with Europe despite a looming US-EU trade war.
The PM this evening said it is not “an either or” decision despite the American President suggesting Brexit Britain would be spared a coming tariff blitz on the bloc.
EPASir Keir Starmer today insisted he can keep Donald Trump onside and seek closer ties with Europe[/caption]
PAAt a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, the PM this evening said it is not “an either or” decision despite the American President suggesting Brexit Britain would be spared a coming tariff blitz on the bloc[/caption]
Speaking at NATO, Sir Keir vowed to “stay resolute” in our relations with both Washington and Brussels, insisting: “We are not choosing between them.”
But the PM will come under intense pressure from the White House in the coming weeks to side with America.
Mr Trump branded the EU “s an atrocity” for not importing enough American cars, food and goods and vowed to hit them with tariffs imminently.
While President Trump hinted the UK would be exempt from his trade war, he blasted: “the UK is way out of line, and we’ll see.”
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But added: “I think that one can be worked out.”
No10 hit back yesterday that UK/US trade was “fair and balanced” and the PM was seeking to improve ties ahead of formal talks over a post-Brexit free-trade deal.
Global markets took a pounding yesterday after Mr Trump unleashed tariffs of Canada and China and vowed more were coming Europe’s way.
The route started in Japan with the Nikkei falling 2.66 per cent to 38,520.09 point while France’s CAC, Germany’s DAX and London’s FTSE 100 all shed more than 1 per cent.
US stocks were also under pressure amid fears a trade war could make goods more expensive for Americans too.
European car manufacturers were the most badly hit with Vauxhall owner Stellantis suffering 4.52 per cent wiped off its market value, Volkswagen lost 4.34 per cent and Mercedes Benz fell 2.9 per cent .
Drinks giant Diageo took a beating, with its shares sinking 3.74 per cent as investors fear the Guinness maker will be hit by tariffs in Mexico which will hurt its tequila business and bigger levies in Canada denting its Crown Royal whisky brand.
Sir Keir – who met EU leaders yesterday as part of his relationship “reset” – is under pressure not to blow his relationship with the US by cosying up to the continent.
Quizzed on whether he can play both sides, the PM said: “It’s really important that we work with both and we don’t see it as an either-or.
“It is in the best interests of the UK, but also the best interest I think in terms of global security and defence, that we continue to work both with the US and with Europe on these vital issues.”
He said there is a “huge amount of trade between the US and the UK, as we have with the EU”.
Sir Keir said: “That’s why it’s important I always act in the national interest, the best interests of the UK, so we stay resolute in saying that it’s important we work with both sets of partners, particularly in this volatile time.”
He yesterday became the first British PM since we left the bloc five years ago to attend a meeting of the EU Council.
The one-time Remainer is lobbying European leaders for closer ties on defence, security and trade.
But in return the notoriously-grasping bloc are demanding more access to our rich fishing waters and free-movement for under-30s in a Youth Mobility Scheme.
Sir Keir added: “Now, tonight is very much obviously about security and defence, where I do think there’s a very important discussion to be had about how we increase our security and defence work together in a very volatile world.
“Also, I will touch on the wider reset which goes beyond defence and security into the fields of energy, and into trade and the economy.
But pledging not to prioritise the EU over America, he said: “So, back to where I started really, both of these relations are very important to us. We are not choosing between them, but that’s historically been the position of the UK for many, many decades now.”
Allies of Mr Trump have urged Britain to hitch its wagon to America – which has experienced healthy growth in recent years – instead of the “socialist” EU.
Asked on the prospect of import taxes on the UK, Sir Keir said: “On the question firstly of tariffs, obviously, it’s early days and I think what’s really important is open and strong trading relations.
“That’s been the basis of my discussions with President Trump and I know that intense US-EU discussions are planned.”
Mr Trump over the weekend suggested Britain would dodge his tariff blizzard, saying that while the UK was still “way out of line” he thought “that one could be worked out”.
The normally combative Commander-in-Chief further hailed his strong early relationship with Sir Keir, who in turn last night returned the praise.
The PM said Mr Trump had “rattled” Vladimir Putin by threatening to impose harsher sanctions on Russia.
Sir Keir was last night the guest-of-honour at the Palais d’Egmont in the Belgian capital for dinner with the 27 EU leaders.
The grand building was where then PM Ted Heath signed Britain’s accession to the European Community 53 years ago.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage blasted: “The EU has invited Keir Starmer to a leaders summit in the very building where Ted Heath signed away our sovereignty in 1972.
“This is deliberate and humiliating. Starmer has learned nothing from the Brexit vote and it will come back to bite the Labour Party.”
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