British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reaffirmed his commitment to establishing strong trade relations with the US following President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. In a statement, Starmer emphasized that he aims for a “strong trading relationship” with the US, despite early days in the talks.
The UK left the EU in 2020 and has not yet been targeted by Trump’s proposed tariffs. The tit-for-tat trade measures have sparked fears of a global trade war. However, Starmer plans to meet with EU leaders in Belgium on Monday to pursue a “relationship reset” and strengthen ties in defense, energy, and trade.
Starmer welcomed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to his country estate, where the two leaders discussed key issues such as Ukraine and the Middle East. They agreed on the need for enhanced defense production in Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The UK and Germany have signed a defense pact to boost European security, and Starmer emphasized that he will incorporate lessons learned from Ukraine into the British government’s strategic defense review later this year.
Starmer expressed gratitude for Scholz’s visit during his re-election campaign, citing improved relations between their countries. The meeting marked a “good sign” of the strong ties between the UK and Germany.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/british-prime-minister-starmer-german-chancellor-scholz-f7950c7dd978fc4cd58af1c7edd4f9ff