The federal government does not assume Donald Trump will impose commerce tariffs on the UK, however is “prepared for all scenarios”, a cupboard minister has mentioned.
Mr Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on all imports into america, singling out Canada, Mexico, and China as nations that would face steeper measures inside hours of his inauguration on Monday.
Requested what the federal government will do if that occurs to the UK, Mr Jones mentioned that was a “hypothetical” query and to attend and see “what actually happens”.
Politics Hub: Trump ‘inside his proper’ to make assertion on tariffs
“If that were to happen, I will come back and lay out the details for you. But the point is, is that I don’t think we’re going to be in that scenario,” Mr Jones mentioned.
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Darren Jones
He mentioned there’s a narrative within the UK that Mr Trump’s presidency poses “a big risk for Britain”, when this is not the case.
“Britain is a brilliant country with huge capabilities and assets which are valued not just to the British people, but to the American economy and other parts of the world,” he mentioned.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that under the Trump administration there are going to be plenty of opportunities that we can seize, and we should be positive about that and be strong about securing this deal.”
Mr Jones confirmed there may be finally a plan if tariffs are imposed, however mentioned it is not for him “to lay out the details in advance of something actually happening on TV”.
“My broader point is that we shouldn’t be looking at president-elect Trump’s inauguration as a risk, or a bad thing for the UK. It could be an enormously positive thing with lots of opportunities.”
President-elect Trump shall be sworn in to a second time period in workplace on Monday, following his election victory in November, and there have been considerations over what his pledged tariffs might imply for economies across the globe.
The previous businessman has been clear he plans to choose up the place he left off in 2021 by taxing items coming into the nation, making them dearer, in a bid to guard US trade and jobs.
UK ‘ought to pursue free commerce deal’ with US
Shadow international secretary Dame Priti Patel, who’s in Washington DC for the inauguration, mentioned Mr Trump is “within his rights to make the statements that he wants around tariffs… but as ever this is a discussion and a negotiation”.
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Priti Patel in Washington DC
She mentioned the Labour authorities ought to resume her social gathering’s talks over a post-Brexit free commerce cope with the US and “not even enter into these discussions around tariffs”.
A commerce cope with the US had been set as a precedence within the Conservative’s 2019 manifesto however was not achieved by the point of the overall election in July final 12 months, which they misplaced.
Ms Patel went on to name Reform UK chief Nigel Farage a “pop-up act” and “not relevant” when requested if her social gathering ought to make peace with him to hit it off with Mr Trump, given the shut relationship of the pair.
She mentioned the Conservatives and Republicans are “sister parties” with “enduring, long-standing ties”.
“We’re not a pop-up act in the way in which they [Reform UK] are… so I don’t think that’s particularly relevant,” she mentioned.
Nevertheless, the Lib Dems accused the previous house secretary of “competing with Reform to be most submissive toward Trump”.
Confidence in Mandelson’s appointment
Mr Trump’s inauguration has additionally prompted a stir after stories within the Sunday papers steered he might reject Lord Peter Mandelson as Sir Keir Starmer’s nomination for the UK’s ambassador to the US.
The Labour grandee has been crucial of Mr Trump prior to now, and was final month branded an “absolute moron” by a Trump campaigner.
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Lord Mandelson. Pic: PA
“It’s probably being propagated by some politicians that would like to cause a bit of a nuisance. I doubt that will be the case.”
Govt ‘does not agree’ with Khan’s Trump feedback
Mr Jones was additionally pressured to distance himself from feedback made by Labour’s Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
Mr Khan has warned of a century-defining battle towards “resurgent fascism”, writing in The Observer that “these are deeply worrying times, especially if you’re a member of a minority community”.
Mr Jones mentioned he doesn’t affiliate with that language and questions on it “are for Sadiq to answer.”
He later advised the BBC: “I speak on behalf of the government and we don’t agree with it.”
