Trump trade deal would be a Brexit triumph

Sir Keir must reject the Remainer ideology that prioritises ties with Brussels and exert every effort in striking an agreement with the US

Prominent among Mr Trump’s campaign promises was a pledge to impose tariffs of up to 20 per cent on imports into the United States, with a 60 per cent rate for imports from China. If only in this respect, his election marks a new risk to the British economy. It is also potentially a golden opportunity.
Taken in isolation, Mr Trump’s tariffs would likely prove highly damaging to British exporters, and combined with retaliation from other countries could lead to a large drop in economic output. However, it has been reported that the president-elect would be open to discussing exemptions or a special deal that would see some or all British exports avoid these charges.
If Britain can secure such a loophole, our manufacturers would be in prime position to benefit from the size and dynamism of the American market at the same time that other overseas competitors find their access diminished. This combination of demand and reduced competition would be a major boon to goods exports. It would also be a major triumph for the Brexit project: a free-trade deal struck that the EU would never have been able to negotiate, taking advantage of our freedom to deliver Britain a unique advantage on the continent.
It is unfortunate, then, that rather than doing his utmost to get such a US deal over the line, Sir Keir Starmer appears to be more interested in wargaming retaliatory tariffs. The Government should change course,and pursue the opportunity for a new era of US trade wholeheartedly.
After all, as Kemi Badenoch writes elsewhere in these pages, the path for doing so is perhaps clearer now than it has ever been. Britain has already struck agreements with several US states, while a trade deal drawn up during Mr Trump’s previous administration and scrapped by President Biden is there to use as a framework.
Moreover, Mr Trump has great affection for his mother’s country of birth, enjoys a valued relationship with the Royal Family, and is a strong supporter of Brexit who is believed to be greatly frustrated by our failure to seize the opportunities it presents. This combination of advanced negotiations and a well-disposed President is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence that must be capitalised on.
It is no secret that many in Sir Keir’s party are deeply personally hostile to Mr Trump, or see a US trade deal as blocking attempts to align ourselves closer with the EU. These views should not be allowed to obstruct progress towards a major economic success. Sir Keir must reject the Remainer ideology that prioritises ties with Brussels, put country ahead of party, and exert every effort in striking an agreement. The rewards for success are too great to ignore.