Trump and Starmer Maintain ‘Productive’ Talks on Financial Deal

(Bloomberg) — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held “productive” discussions about “an financial prosperity deal” on a name with US President Donald Trump on Sunday night forward of a crunch week by which the federal government hopes to carve out exemptions from looming US tariffs.

An announcement from Downing Road stated the 2 leaders agreed that negotiations “will proceed at tempo this week” and that they are going to “keep in contact within the coming days.” Washington is scheduled to unveil a collection of reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday that may remake the worldwide buying and selling system. Economists say the transfer would hammer UK development and result in tax rises within the autumn.

Trump needs to rebalance commerce the place it considers the US is being penalized, and should take non-tariff obstacles resembling taxes and laws under consideration. Starmer has been working for months on relations with the White Home and is contemplating chopping digital taxes on US tech companies in an try to safe particular therapy for the UK.

Starmer and Trump additionally agreed on the necessity to sustain “the collective stress” on Russian chief Vladimir Putin, the assertion added. The remark got here after Trump stated he was “pissed off” with Putin for what gave the impression to be delaying ways over a ceasefire take care of Ukraine. If Russia didn’t interact correctly, Trump would impose “secondary sanctions” on Russian oil to stop all gross sales.

Trump Threatens Russia Oil Penalties Citing Anger at Putin (2)

Final week, Trump pre-empted this week’s deliberate “Liberation Day” announcement on tariffs by signing a proclamation to impose a 25% tariff on automobile imports beginning April 3, with additional levies anticipated on items from the UK, European Union and Canada. Extra on laptop chips and prescribed drugs might comply with.

UK officers are in “intense” talks with Washington to safe an exemption or discount, in line with Residence Secretary Yvette Cooper, who was chatting with Sky Information on Sunday. She didn’t rule out the UK retaliating. “No possibility is off the desk,” Cooper stated. “The UK authorities will at all times act within the nationwide curiosity.”

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