Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the UK will make it’s position known ‘loud and clear’ behind the scenes as the humiliated US President announced 15% global tariffs
The UK is making its position on Donald Trump’s decision to ramp up tariffs “loud and clear” behind closed doors, a Cabinet minister has insisted.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she hoped the UK’s trade deal – thrashed out last year – would continue despite the US President’s outburst. Her remarks came as the humiliated US President announced 15% global tariffs.
He initially said he would impose a 10% levy after the Supreme Court struck down his previous import taxes on Friday in a major blow to his presidency. But in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, he said he would be increasing this to the higher rate of 15% “effective immediately”. He branded the highest court’s decision “ridiculous” and “extraordinarily anti-American”.
Asked about the implications of the new tariff rate for Britain, Ms Phillipson said on Sunday: “This is a fast-evolving issue in response to the Supreme Court judgements. What I can say is we are having conversations right at the very highest levels to make sure what we regard as being in our national interest is heard loud and clear in those conversations with our American counterparts.”
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The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warned over the weekend the change would mean an extra 5% increase in tariffs on a “wide range” of exports to America, except those covered under a transatlantic trade deal.
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Ms Phillipson said the UK government would “hope and expect” the US-UK deal to continue. The Cabinet was asked on Sky News whether it was time to use the “steel fist” rather than the “velvet glove” in dealings with the White House and retaliate.
She replied: “We’ll always stand up for what is right for Britain. I think the Prime Minister demonstrated that with the approach we took around Greenland. But the reality is if you want to get things done it’s better to do that behind the scenes.”
She added: “In reality you get more done when you are prepared to have serious conversations, often not in front of cameras or out there in the public, but actually behind the scenes, working closely between governments.”
The BCC, a network representing 50,000 UK firms, swiftly expressed dismay at the US President’s announcement over the weekend. Head of trade policy, William Bain, said: “The 40,000 UK companies exporting goods to the US will be dismayed at this latest turn of events. We had feared that the President’s Plan B response could be worse for British businesses and so it is proving.”
He added: “This means an extra 5% increase in tariffs on a wide range of UK goods exports to the US, except those covered under the Economic Prosperity Deal. This will raise the tariff cost on UK exports to the US by between £2bn and £3bn.”