VK does not choose between us and EU, says Keir Starmer

The UK “does not choose the US and the EU,” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said after President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with trading rates.

During the weekend, Trump announced 25% rates in Canada and Mexico – who have both been paused since – and said that he would take similar action against the EU, but suggested that a deal with the UK could be “worked out”.

Asked if he would be willing to make attempts to forge closer ties with the EU in exchange for the US side, Sir Keir said that both relationships were important for the UK.

“Now, that’s not new to me, I think that has always been the case and many, many years will be the case,” he added.

The prime minister told a press conference in Brussels that it was “early days” when it came to rates with the US and that he supported “open and strong trade relationships”.

Sir Keir was in Belgium to meet NATO -Secretary General Mark Rutte and to attend conversations with EU leaders -the first PM to do this since Brexit.

Asked for tensions between the US and the EU, Rutte said that there were “always problems between allies”, but that would “not stand in the way of our collective determination to keep our deterrent strong”.

On Ukraine he said that NATO – the military alliance of Western countries – should not only continue to exist, but also our support “to ensure that Ukraine could negotiate with Russia from” a position of strength “.

He added that spending 2% of national income on the defense “was not enough to keep us safe” and that “no time could be wasted” when stimulating financing.

Currently NATO asks every Lidland to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, But it is thought Only 23 of the 32 members reach the target.

Sir Keir said that the UK is currently spending 2.3% and that his government would soon “make the path” to reach 2.5%.

During a dinner from the European Council, the Prime Minister called for more military cooperation between the VK and Europe, including by improving military mobility and logistics throughout Europe, aimed at research and development and deepening of industrial cooperation.

He also said that there should be more cooperation to protect against the state and sabotage threats, including on submarine infrastructure. This is after the UK has been published A warning for Russia Last month after a espionage ship was spotted in the vicinity of submarine cables.

Although defense is the focus of his Brussels trip, it is also part of a constant bid for Sir Keir to “reset” relationships between UK-EU.

The British government wants to forge stronger ties with the EU – but that can make the US angry and risk the United Kingdom in a trade war.

Similarly, the EU can object to Sir Keir who looks up at the US instead of its European neighbors.

Previously no. 10 said the Prime Minister Trump trusted and pointed to “a really constructive early set of conversations” between the two men.

“We have a fair and balanced trade relationship that benefits both sides of the Atlantic,” the spokesperson added.

“It is worth around £ 300 billion and we are each other’s single investors, with £ 1.2 tn invested in each other’s economies.”

After Trump’s announcements during the weekend, the announcements of the European and Asian stock markets, where car manufacturers are particularly poorly affected.

The UK was also affected, but to a lesser extent than the EU.

Analysis produced last year by the University of Sussex suggested The UK could be confronted with a hit of £ 22 billion to export if the US imposed a 20% rate on all input.

Trump believes that the imposition of rates will help grow the US economy and to protect jobs, but this can lead to consumers paying more as prices adapt to taxes.

On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that the imposition of the rates of 25% was delayed after reaching an agreement with the US, which would use its country to use 10,000 troops to tackle drug trafficking in the US.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also confirmed that Trump’s proposed 25% rates on Canadian goods would be “paused for at least 30 days while we work together”.

President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission said that the EU wanted a constructive dialogue with the US, but was ready to respond firmly if it was “unfair” aimed by the new Trump government.

The French President Emmanuel Macron said that if the EU interests were attacked, the trade block “would have to be respected and therefore respond”.

EU chef of the Kaja Kallas policy policy said that there were no winners in trade wars “, but if there was a trade war with the US”, then the one laughed at the side is China. “

Earlier asked if he would bring rates to the UK, Tump said: “UK is not in line, but I am sure that … I think it can be worked out.”

He added his discussions with the British Prime Minister “was very nice” and added: “We had a few meetings. We have had countless phone calls. We can get along well.”

In addition to the defense, the UK wants to discuss the restrictions on the trade of food and animal products and want to discuss emissions trading with the EU.

The mutual recognition of professional qualifications and allowing touring musicians to travel easier are also areas of interest.

The EU would like to set up a youth mobility schedule, which would make it easier for young EU citizens to study and work in the UK and vice versa. Ministers have rejected the idea so far.

Downing Street has not excluded The Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, That tariff -free trade on some goods would make possible.

The conservatives have accused the government of “reopening the division of the past and bringing us back to the EU”.

Liberal -Democrat -Leader Sir Ed Davey, on the other hand insistent The government to negotiate a new UK-EU Douane Union, making tariff-free trade between the two parties possible.

After the tariff announcements, Sir Ed said that the US president “behaved like a bully of the playground” and that the VK “should” work with our allies in the Commonwealth and Europe to be strong against Trump “.