Trump's ex-adviser stokes fear of trade war over tariffs

Donald Trump will impose surgical” tariffs when he enters office, his former director of communications has warned, as concern grows over an imminent trade war with the United States.

- MILLIE COOKE

Anthony Scaramucci said Mr Trump will impose the levies in a targeted way on any “industries that we need to protect”.

The former adviser’s intervention comes just days after Sir Keir Starmer hit out at the “dangers” of tariffs, putting the prime minister on a collision course with the incoming US president.

Mr Scaramucci told Times Radio: “It’s going to be surgical, and it’s going to be done to protect the industries that we need to protect.

“So, as an example, if China teams up with their steel industry, meaning the government is now fortifying and subsidising the steel industry, and they can dump steel into the American market below the market price to crush out their American competitors, we can’t allow that.”