Trump tariff war will dictate the UK’s geopolitical future
The US President has opened an economically damaging trade war. If he persists, it will force Britain’s government to choose where it stands
This is Iain Martin’s weekly newsletter exclusively for subscribers to Reaction.
By the time you read this, who knows where we will all be. We have the President of one NATO power, the United States, suggesting or demanding that another NATO power, Canada, give up its sovereignty and hand over itself and its territory to the US. And that was just the warm up. On Friday and Saturday, President Trump announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Both nations have responded with counter measures, meaning that, incredibly, the US is now fighting a trade war with two of its neighbours and allies. Canadian exports to the US will now carry a 25% surcharge, and 10% on oil.
Trump has also indicated that soon he is going to impose similarly punitive tariffs on the European Union, which he said has treated the US “horribly.” From a British perspective, the big question is whether he extends those tariffs to the UK or decides, for whatever reason, to treat Britain differently.