Sun, 19 Jan 2025

Trump will want a good deal with UK, says minister

Darren Jones, the chancellor's second-in-command, is confident UK-US trading relationships could be deepened.

* Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones says President-elect Donald Trump will want to do a good deal with the UK.
* Jones is confident that the UK can deepen its trading relationships with the US, particularly in technology, science, and research.
* He also thinks Lord Peter Mandelson will be "brilliant" as the new UK ambassador to the US.
* Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (or Boris Johnson) is in a weak negotiating position due to his wish to strengthen ties with both the EU and the US.
* Jones says the government has prepared for all scenarios, including Trump's pledge for a 20% tax on imports into the US.
* The Treasury minister also expressed confidence that Mandelson will form a strong partnership with the new administration, despite some reports suggesting Trump may reject him.
* Farage warned that the UK needs to "think outside the box" when dealing with the Trump administration and that the government is not doing this.
* The Reform UK leader fears that the UK will squander an opportunity to get away from tariffs and negotiate free trade deals due to the prime minister's refusal to choose the US over the EU.
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