LONDON — The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, expressed his intention on Sunday to cultivate a robust trade alliance with the United States, particularly after President Donald Trump indicated he would consider imposing tariffs on Europe following tariffs that have already affected major trading nations like Canada, Mexico, and China. Starmer made these remarks while hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at his estate, just ahead of an important journey aimed at reinforcing ties with the European Union.
In his conversations with President Trump, Starmer emphasized the importance of establishing a strong trading relationship, noting, “So it is very early days.” Following Trump’s recent announcement set for implementation on Tuesday, Canada and Mexico issued retaliatory tariffs alongside the U.S. imposing a 25% duty on imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as a 10% levy on goods arriving from China. Trump has indicated that he “absolutely” intends to extend tariffs to the EU as well.
The United Kingdom’s departure from the EU in 2020 was a significant moment, coming after a 2016 referendum. Although Trump had shown support for the Leave campaign during the Brexit vote, he has yet to clarify whether the UK would be subject to his proposed tariffs. The escalating situation is raising concerns about a potential global trade conflict.
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper articulated these concerns, stating on the BBC that “Tariff increases really right across the world can have a really damaging impact on global growth and trade.” Starmer is set to meet with EU leaders in Belgium on Monday, with the aim of resetting the UK’s relationship with Europe. While he has ruled out rejoining the EU trade bloc five years after Brexit, he is keen on establishing tighter cooperation in areas like defense, energy, and trade.
“I think that is certainly in the U.K.’s best interest and I do believe it’s in the E.U.’s best interest,” Starmer remarked. He expressed hope that over the past seven months, there has been a noticeable shift in approach, tone, and relationship between the UK and the EU. During their meeting at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence located in Buckinghamshire, the two leaders delved into discussions concerning Ukraine and the Middle East, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Starmer.
The leaders recognized their united stance on essential issues and challenges, particularly their mutual support for Ukraine as it endures its ongoing war with Russia, which marks its fourth year this month. They concurred that Russia’s invasion has underscored the necessity to enhance and coordinate defense production throughout Ukraine. In October, the UK and Germany had established a defense agreement, recognized as a distinctive pact among NATO member countries, aimed at reinforcing European security amid escalating Russian threats.
Starmer mentioned that the British government’s strategic defense review later in the year will address the insights gained from the situation in Ukraine and the imperative to counteract Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive maneuvers on the continent. He took a moment to appreciate Scholz’s visit, especially during a challenging re-election campaign. Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats currently trail in polling against the center-right Christian Democratic Union and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), just three weeks ahead of the February 23 election.
Reflecting on his tenure, Starmer stated, “When I started as prime minister seven months ago now, I was determined to strengthen the relationship between our two countries — already very good, but I thought it could be stronger on a number of fronts.” He commended Scholz’s leadership, asserting that genuine progress had been achieved. In turn, Scholz acknowledged the visit as a “good sign of the very good relations between our two countries, and indeed between the two of us,” further illustrating the camaraderie of the leaders.
