British PM declares "globalisation is over" as Trump tariffs shake world economy

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared that the era of globalisation has ended, acknowledging that it has "failed millions of voters" in the face of widening economic inequality and stagnation. 

His remarks come as the international economic system reels from the shockwaves of sweeping tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports, citing British media.

In his first major response to the U.S. trade offensive, Starmer is expected to argue that the global economic turmoil sparked by Trump’s protectionist turn underscores the urgent need for a new domestic economic strategy rooted in growth, reform, and resilience. “The world has changed,” a senior Downing Street official said, “globalisation is over and we are now in a new era.”

Starmer’s speech will signal a decisive pivot away from the free-market consensus that has dominated Western politics for decades. While he will stop short of endorsing Trump’s nationalist approach, the prime minister is set to admit that the populist backlash is grounded in real grievances: “There’s a reason why people are behind him on this,” the official added. “We’ve got to demonstrate that our approach, a more active Labour government, a more reformist government, can provide the answers.”

Later this week, Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves will unveil a series of pro-growth measures. These include accelerating elements of the government’s industrial strategy and easing regulations on electric vehicle manufacturers, signalling a clear embrace of supply-side reform as a growth engine.

The new direction will be further reinforced on Wednesday, when Reeves holds an “economic and financial dialogue” with Indian counterparts in an effort to fast-track a long-awaited UK-India trade agreement. Simultaneously, the government is pursuing fresh trade negotiations with Australia, aiming to reinforce Britain’s post-globalisation trading footprint.

In a particularly symbolic blow to the global trade model, China has been hit with tariffs as high as 54 percent on key exports, including sporting goods such as basketballs, dramatically affecting supply chains and consumer prices worldwide.

While Starmer will maintain that tariffs are not the answer, he is expected to strike a more sympathetic tone toward economic nationalism than his predecessors. His message is clear: the days of relying on free trade and unfettered global markets are over—and the UK must now chart its own reformist course to address voter disillusionment and drive sustainable national growth.

By Khagan Isayev