Britain is parting company with the European Union by not retaliating to the tariffs that President Trump imposed on steel and aluminum imports on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer calculates that he can negotiate a trade deal with the United States that would spare his country in the long term. The approach contrasts sharply with that of the European Union, which hit back swiftly with retaliatory measures on American exports, including Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bourbon and jeans, and top European officials have warned about the uncertainty Mr. Trump’s policies are causing. By contrast, British officials have expressed only muted disappointment that they have been swept into Mr. Trump’s protectionist net. Mr. Starmer said in parliament that he was “disappointed” by the global tariffs on steel and aluminum but Britain would take a “pragmatic approach.” A new trade deal would include tariffs, he added, and Britain would “keep all options open.”But Mr. Starmer believes that he can ultimately persuade Mr. Trump that Britain’s trade relationship with the United States is balanced.

Source: The Times March 12, 2025 18:02 UTC