Trump Finally Speaks Out on UK Trade Tariffs — What He Said About Keir Starmer Will Shock You!
Donald Trump has sparked controversy by claiming Sir Keir Starmer was “very happy” with the UK being hit with 10% tariffs on exports to the US the lowest rate in Trump’s sweeping new trade policy that imposes levies of 10% to 50% on all nations.
The announcement sent shockwaves through global markets, with the US dollar plunging nearly 2% and London’s FTSE 100 dropping 0.5% at Friday’s opening.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: “We have a very good dialogue. I think he was very happy about how we treated them with tariffs.” He added that he was open to renegotiating rates if countries offered “something that is so phenomenal.”
But the Prime Minister struck a more cautious tone, framing the tariffs as the start of a “new economic era” requiring strategic long-term thinking. “This is not just a short-term tactical exercise,” Starmer said during a campaign event in Chesterfield. “We have to understand the changing world when it comes to trade and the economy.”
The UK government has published an “indicative list” of American goods that could face retaliatory tariffs including bourbon, motorcycles, Levi’s jeans, and Gibson guitars but insists it will stay “cool and calm” while pursuing a deal with Washington. Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced a four-week consultation before any action, emphasizing that “all options remain on the table.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the measured approach, though he criticized Trump’s “return to protectionism,” unseen in nearly a century. France’s Emmanuel Macron was far blunter, slamming the “brutal and unfounded” 20% tariffs imposed on the EU.
Economists warn the tariffs could slash UK growth by up to 0.5 percentage points—a major blow for an economy already projected to expand just 1% this year. RSM UK’s Thomas Pugh suggested the hit might erase Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s entire fiscal headroom, forcing tough budget decisions by autumn.
For now, Starmer vows to “fight for the best deal for Britain,” but with global markets jittery and businesses bracing for higher costs, the path forward remains uncertain. As one analyst put it: “This isn’t just about trade it’s a test of how the world navigates a fracturing economic order.”
