Reynolds says government launching consultation with business on possible retaliatory tariffs against US
Reynolds says he is now opening a consultation on possible retaliatory tariffs.
It remains our belief that the best route to economic stability for working people is a negotiated deal with the US that builds on our shared strengths.
However, we do reserve the right to take any action we deem necessary if a deal is not secured.
To enable the UK to have every option open to us in future, I am today launching a request for input on the implications for British businesses of possible retaliatory action. This is a formal step necessary for us to keep all options on the table.
We will seek the views of UK stakeholders over four weeks until 1 May 2025 on products that could potentially be included in any UK tariff response.
This exercise will also give businesses the chance to have their say and influence the design of any possible UK action.
Reynolds stresses that retaliatory tariffs are only an option, and that the government still wants an economic deal instead.
If we are in a position to agree an economic deal with the US that lifts the tariffs that have been placed on our industries, this request for input will be paused, and any measures flowing from that will be lifted.
Reynolds says further information about the consultation will be on the gov.uk website later today.
Key events
Business groups back Starmer’s ‘cool and calm’ response to Trump tariffs
Business groups have strongly welcomed the government’s decision not to announce immediate retaliatory tariffs against the US, but to instead keep talking to the US about a trade deal that might lead to tariffs being removed. One organisation, the CBI, even adopted Keir Starmer’s language about being “cool and calm”. (See 9.06am.)
This is what three of the leading business groups are saying.
From Rain Newton-Smith, CEO at the CBI
Today’s announcements are deeply troubling for businesses and will have significant ramifications around the world.
A cool and calm reaction from the UK government is the right response: UK firms need a measured and proportionate approach which avoids further escalation. Retaliation will only add to supply chain disruption, slow down investment, and stoke volatility in prices.
From Emma Rowland, trade policy adviser at the Institute of Directors
The implementation of these ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs will be a blow to British businesses, eliminating any hopes that the UK would be able to avoid the crosshairs of the global trade war …
The UK government has so far sought to pursue constructive engagement with the US administration and with other trading partners. We are supportive of this pragmatic and level-headed approach. The UK benefits from being an open trading nation, with strongly integrated international links. The IoD support the government’s efforts to sustain the position of UK exporters in an increasingly fragmented global economy.
From Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce
The government has kept a cool head so far and must continue to negotiate. This is a marathon not a sprint, and getting the best deal for the UK is what matters most.
But no-one will escape the fallout from these decisions, there will be an increased risk of trade diversion, and it will wreak havoc on businesses communities across the world.
John Swinney tells MSPs Scottish government will stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with firms hit by tariffs
Severin Carrell
Severin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.
John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, has pledged to “stand shoulder to shoulder” with Scottish firms facing the 10% import tariffs proposed by President Trump.
He told MSPs during first minister’s questions he will meet Scotch Whisky Association officials in New York in coming days, when he takes part in the annual Tartan Week celebrations there, to discuss “the very significant issues” facing the sector.
Swinney was questioned by Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservative leader, over the Scottish government’s “short sighted” decision to cancel an export strategy devoted to US trade last year.
The first minister sidestepped that specific point but insisted Scotland’s enterprise and export agencies were heavily engaged in promoting trade with the US, while Scottish ministers were closely cooperating with the UK government.
Scottish whisky producers sold nearly £1bn worth of produce in the US last year, roughly a fifth of the sector’s overall production, while Scottish salmon producers exported £225m last year to the US.
Swinney said:
The imposition of tariffs isn’t good news. It will be damaging for economic activity in Scotland, the UK, but also across the world and there will also be negative implications for the people of the United States.
I can assure Mr Findlay that this government will leave no stone unturned to make sure it can take forward the concerns of industry and work with the UK government.
No 10 says ‘basic protections’ for children in Online Safety Act not up for negotiation
At the Labour local elections launch this morning Keir Starmer strongly played down any suggestion that the Online Safety Act would be watered down as part of a UK/US economic deal – while not quite saying it would not feature at all. (See 12.38pm.) It has been reported that the UK could be offering a review of the legislation. (See 10.49am.)
At the Downing Street lobby briefing the PM’s spokesperson delivered a similar message – saying “basic protections” were not up for negotiaton. He said:
We’ve said previously our Online Safety Act is all about protecting children online, making sure what is illegal offline is illegal online. The technology secretary has reiterated that our basic protections for children and vulnerable people are not up for negotiation. That remains the government’s position.
Here is Guardian video of Keir Starmer giving his response this morning to the Trump tariffs announcement.
Reynolds urges MP ‘not to invent problems that don’t exist’, when asked Online Safety Act being part of US deal
Bobby Dean (Lib Dem) says when US rightwingers talk about freedom of speech, they mean they want US tech companies to continue to be free to impose harmful content on children. He asks Reynolds to rule out the Online Safety Act being part of UK/US economic deal.
Reynolds urges MPs “not to invent problems that don’t exist”. He says the talks with the US are focused on “goods and services in the main”.
Reynolds say US tech companies will still have to pay ‘fair rate of tax’ in UK – without ruling out changes to digital services tax
Back in the Commons Lisa Smart (Lib Dem) asked Reynolds if the government would cut the digital services tax (DST) as part of its economic deal with the US.
Reynolds said he would not discuss the specifics of the negotiations. But he went on:
Making sure any tech company – not just a US tech company, any tech company – pays a fair rate of taxation in the UK for the economic activity that they have in the UK is something all parts of the British government are committed to, and [Smart] doesn’t need to be worried about that.
I would just say that there’s always going to be, in any discussion, a lot of issues that need to be dealt with, and in the main, those are trade issues.
I understand there’s all kinds of speculation. Speculation isn’t always correct, and I would just ask all colleagues to bear that in mind, understand we can’t publicly, in a negotiation like this, share every single aspect of it.
But if she’s worried about US companies, or any tech companies paying the right rate of tax in the UK, I can tell that’s something we’re deeply committed to.
Reform UK MPs criticised for missing Commons statement about Trump tariffs
In the Commons Blake Stephenson (Con) says the Trump tariffs will make “everyone poorer”. He says it is noteworthy that Reform UK MPs “have not bothered to turn up to share in our disappointment”.
Reynolds agrees, saying he is right to note the “conspicuous absence” of Nigel Farage and his colleagues.
Starmer repeatedly accuses Farage of ‘fawning over Putin’ at Labour local elections campaign launch
Ben Quinn
Ben Quinn is a senior Guardian reporter.
Keir Starmer has accused Reform UK of “fawning over Putin” as the prime minster used Labour’s local elections launch to turn maximum fire on Nigel Farage’s party over foreign relations and the NHS.
In a sign of how Labour views Reform as potentially a greater threat than the Tories, Starmer devoted more time to hitting out at Reform than at the Conservatives.
Labour chose a Derbyshire county council area voted the worst in Britain for potholes as location for the launch, during which Starmer accused the Tory-controlled local authority of being responsible for potholes and anti social behaviour.
But Starmer spared most of his ammunition for Reform, listing the rightwing voting record of the party’s MPs on workers rights and its position on the NHS.
“They claim to be the party of patriotism. I’ll tell you this, there’s nothing patriotic about fawning over Putin,” he said, during a speech and a Q&A with reporters where he used the phrase “fawning over Putin” three times.
Farage claims, if Tories had done better with Brexit, UK would have avoided tariffs because US deal would be in place
The US tariff announcement is difficult for Reform UK because the party, and its leader, Nigel Farage, are closely identified with Donald Trump, and Trump was deeply unpopular with British voters (including Reform UK supporters) even before yesterday. The tariffs will probably make him ever more toxic.
Reform does not seem to have issued any statement on the tariffs announcement last night.
But this morning Farage posted this on social media.
10% tariffs from the USA are bad news, but better than 20% for EU members.
If the Tory government had delivered quickly on Brexit we would have had a free trade deal years ago.
This deal is still achievable.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, responded with this.
If you’re such good mates with Trump, how about you pick up the phone and tell him to drop the tariffs?
The US hit countries they have trade deals with too. But we can always count on you to play the loyal sidekick to the bully Trump.
Reynolds says Online Safety Act has not been part of his trade talks, adding US ‘not seeking to make children unsafe’
Munira Wilson (Lib Dem) asks Reynolds to refuse to water down “in any way, shape or form” the Online Safety Act.
Reynolds says his talks with his US counterpart have not covered this issue.
And he says the US “is not seeking to make our children unsafe”. He goes on:
I think sometimes the Liberal Democrats are inventing problems to try and propose that they are the solution to them. This is a conversation about trade, and I think it’s just vitally important we keep it in that important and appropriate terms.
