Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met with US president Donald Trump at the White House in Washington yesterday, where trade was high on the agenda.
The meeting came amid growing concerns over Trump’s protectionist policies, with the US President recently announcing new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China and suggesting the EU and UK could be next.
Following their private discussions, Trump claimed a UK-US trade deal could be reached “very quickly” and hinted that Britain may avoid the tariffs being imposed on other nations. However, no concrete agreements were made.
The UK has long sought a post-Brexit trade deal with the USA, but efforts during Trump’s first term failed to materialise. Meanwhile, Britain continues to face significant trade barriers with its largest market, the EU, which Best for Britain’s recent report shows is key to long-term economic growth. Polling also shows that voters overwhelmingly support prioritising a common sense deal with Europe over trade with the US.
Naomi Smith, CEO at Best for Britain said:
"The risk with Trump is that while he dangles the prospect of a trade deal over us, history suggests it’s unlikely to materialise. Even if it did, government figures suggest it would deliver a mere 0.16% boost to GDP, compared with 2.2% from an improved agreement with the EU.
The UK needs to prioritise its trading relationship with the EU. Voters want it, businesses need it, and we cannot afford to put it on ice for a less trustworthy, lower-growth option being mooted across the Atlantic."