UK may respond to Trump with tariffs PHOTO

The UK has retaliatory tariffs on iconic US products, including Harley Davidson motorcycles, prepared for immediate use if a trade war with Donald Trump erupts.

The British government has been strategizing on how to counter possible Trump tariffs on UK exports, with officials informing ministers that they can repurpose former EU measures against the US without needing additional investigation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Following Brexit, the UK retained tariffs from the European Union that were imposed on US goods during Trump’s first term as retaliation for his extensive tariffs on European steel. Last month that the EU also has a similar set of measures ready to be activated.

The UK tariffs remained in effect when Britain officially left the EU in February 2020, covering iconic American goods such as Jack Daniel’s bourbon, Levi’s jeans, and Harley Davidsons. 

Current and former government officials informed that the UK could immediately reimpose these tariffs on the US if Trump follows through on his threat to impose 10 to 20 per cent tariffs on all foreign imports, without facing opposition from Britain's trade regulator. Publicly, the UK government prefers not to discuss the possibility of a retaliatory trade war with the US, even if Trump imposes tariffs on British imports.

Reintroducing tariffs on motorbikes and other goods could likely escalate tensions between the two nations and violate the terms of the agreement made between the UK and the Biden administration to suspend them in the first place. Within the government, ministers are hoping for the best, even as departments prepare for the worst. 

A Cabinet minister, speaking anonymously to share their views freely, stated that US “tariffs are potentially very big for us,” adding, “Trade makes up only about 10 per cent of their GDP, but it’s around 30 [percent] for the UK” The UK’s primary goal is to persuade the president-elect not to impose tariffs on British imports in the first place, they said. 

The Cabinet minister also suggested that if Trump does take action, the UK government would prefer to negotiate a deal rather than resort to retaliatory measures, as it did previously.

By Naila Huseynova