Starmer Vows to Prioritize UK Interests in Response to Trump’s Trade Tariffs
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has made it clear that no trade agreement with the US will be signed unless it aligns with the UK’s national interest, pushing back against pressure from Washington amid escalating economic tensions.
Speaking at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull, Starmer addressed the impact of US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, including a 10% baseline import duty and 25% on British cars, which have sent shockwaves through global markets.
“These tariffs represent a huge challenge for our future,” Starmer warned. “I will only strike a deal if it’s in the national interest. That’s my priority—strength abroad, security and renewal at home.”
The UK government is currently in talks with US negotiators to mitigate the fallout. In parallel, it announced relaxed electric vehicle sales targets, £2.3 billion in EV infrastructure support, and £600 million joint investment with the Wellcome Trust for health research—all part of what Starmer called a “down payment” on Britain’s industrial future.
Tensions Rise Over Potential Concessions
One proposal on the table includes potential adjustments to the UK’s digital services tax, which currently affects major US tech firms like Amazon and Meta. Trump’s administration is reportedly pressing for its removal as part of any broader deal.
However, UK farming and manufacturing industries are pushing back, fearful that a rushed agreement could lower domestic standards.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw urged the government not to “roll over to an aggressive US administration,” warning that another flawed trade deal would devastate already struggling British farmers.
The UK is also preparing its own list of potential retaliatory tariffs on US goods, reportedly spanning over 400 pages and including bourbon, firearms, and crude oil.
Calls for Strength, Not Concessions
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on Starmer to “end this trade war through strength, not timidity,” while Conservative critics accused the Labour government of lacking direction on industrial strategy.
Despite political headwinds, Starmer struck a confident tone, telling factory workers: “These are challenging times, but we’re backing you to the hilt.”
With Trump’s trade war escalating, Starmer’s balancing act between safeguarding British economic interests and navigating transatlantic diplomacy has never been more critical.
