Rachel Reeves has said she will make "strong representations" about the harm such a protectionist measure would inflict.
During his election campaign, Donald Trump said “tariffs” was his favourite word, and he repeatedly floated the possibility of increasing levies by up to 60 per cent on goods imported from China, and 10 per cent on those from the rest of the world.
Some say Trump is not a vindictive type, that he does not bear grudges. Others, who also profess to know him, are not so sure. Whatever. His face, when the UK pleads for some sort of special treatment, will almost certainly break into a smile.
As to whether he will follow through with an increase – any increase – it’s impossible to say. But the very fact that Britain has got itself into this situation, of effectively having to beg for mercy, speaks volumes about the shortsightedness of its new government. In a two-horse race, they staked all their bets on one horse.
More than 100 Labour staffers answered an email from the party’s head of operations and flew to assist Kamala Harris’s effort, prompting a charge of “blatant foreign interference” from the Trump camp. When the Republicans complained, Keir Starmer had every opportunity to apologise and call the Labour workers back, but he didn’t. He correctly pointed out that they were volunteering in their own time, not that Trump’s camp was listening.
Denne historien er fra November 09, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra November 09, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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'Last thing I saw was that half of Syria was liberated'
Former Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini speaks candidly to Jack Rathborn about her country's future after the dramatic removal of the dictator Bashar al-Assad earlier this month
The 30 medal sports legend you may not have heard of
A Paralympic veteran, Sarah Storey tells Luke Baker why we struggle to celebrate para-athletes doing incredible things
Haaland's spot-kick sums up limp and lifeless City
So, no Christmas miracle for the man christened Josep. Instead, his new normal continued.
Gakpo emerges as Reds' latest game-changing star
Liverpool are accustomed to singing about walking through the storm.
Labour won't kill the British pub - but some will still die
The institution is safe for the time being but Budget tax hikes will affect those that are already struggling
China greenlight 'world's biggest' hydro dam in Tibet.despite flooding concerns
China has approved the construction of the world's largest hydropower dam on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau despite protests over its ecological impact and concerns it could affect millions of people downstream in India and Bangladesh.
Asia marks 20 years since.tragic Boxing Day tsunami
One of world's worst natural disasters claimed 228.000 lives
Israel confirms attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen
Israel's military has confirmed that it struck multiple targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen yesterday, including Sanaa International Airport and three ports along the western coast.
Syria's rebels planned years ahead for life after Assad
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham commanders talk to Bel Trew about the planning and military innovations that brought them victory
Moscow 'foiled' multiple Ukraine assassination plots
Russia has claimed it has foiled several Ukrainian plots to assassinate senior officers and their families using bombs disguised as power banks or document folders.
