Starmer Warns of Inevitable ‘Impact’ of Tariffs

AFP/APP

London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told business leaders at his Downing Street office on Thursday that a 10 percent tariff imposed on British exports to the United States would “clearly have an economic impact.”

“Last night, the president of the United States acted for his country, and that is his mandate. Today, I will act in Britain’s interests with mine,” Starmer stated, emphasizing that trade negotiations with Donald Trump’s administration would continue and that “we will fight for the best deal for Britain.”

Stressing that “nobody wins in a trade war,” Starmer vowed to respond with “pragmatism, cool and calm heads.”

“We have a range of levers at our disposal, and we will continue working with businesses across the country to assess these options,” he said.

“Our intention remains to secure a trade deal. But nothing is off the table,” he added.

“We must recognize that, just as in defense and security, the economy and trade are also subject to a rapidly changing world,” Starmer noted.