The challenges facing Starmer’s Government from the new Trump presidency
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Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been outwardly met with a warm welcome by the UK’s political leaders, but the 47th president poses a series of challenges for Sir Keir Starmer’s Government. Measures to protect American trade, and to bring a swift end to the Ukraine-Russia war are among the incoming US leader’s priorities which could upset Sir Keir’s plans for Government.
Here the PA news agency looks at five of the challenges facing Britain as a result of Mr Trump’s second presidency. – Tariffs. Mr Trump has pledged to introduce trade tariffs on goods coming from other countries into the US. If introduced, goods entering the US from abroad would be more expensive for American consumers, and exporting there would be more costly for other countries.
While the chief targets for Mr Trump are America’s nearest and largest trade partners, Canada and Mexico, as well as China, there are fears other countries could come into the remit of tariffs. Mr Trump introduced tariffs on China, as well as on steel from most countries, during his first presidency as part of his “America First” programme.
Markets have begun to react to the possibility that tariffs may feature in his second presidency, and this is believed to have influenced the recent rise in Government borrowing costs in the UK. Ministers do not believe Mr Trump will impose tariffs on the UK, but have said they are prepared for the possibility.
