Donald Trump’s new trade chief backed US-UK deals - which could come at expense of Brexit reset
The IndependentSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump’s new trade chief has previously called for deals with the UK, it has emerged, as the president elect’s team seeks to force Keir Starmer to choose between the US and the EU. Focusing on trading partners such as the United Kingdom, Kenya, the Philippines and India would be a good start.” Announcing his choice, Mr Trump said that Mr Greer, a former Air Force lawyer turned trade litigator, would “focus the Office of the US Trade Representative on reining in the country’s massive trade deficit, defending American manufacturing, agriculture and services and opening up export markets everywhere”. open image in gallery Trump adviser Stephen Moore has said the UK ‘has to make a choice’ between ‘EU socialism and US freedom’ During the election campaign, Mr Trump unveiled plans to introduce 20 per cent tariffs on all imports to the US, with that figure rising to 60 per cent for Chinese imports. In what was widely seen as a warning to Trump of the implications of any tariffs imposed on the UK, Downing Street said on Tuesday: “A million Americans work for UK-owned businesses and vice versa, and the fact that UK-US trade was worth £304bn in the last year, clearly that is something that we want to build on.” Overnight the president-elect had indicated that he would place tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China as soon as he re-enters the White House in January, raising fears that the UK is next.