Trump, Starmer Talk Trade on First Call Since Inauguration
(Bloomberg) -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump discussed trade in their first conversation since Trump re-entered the White House. They also agreed to “meet soon.”
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The leaders spoke about “how both countries can promote a fair bilateral economic relationship” during a phone call Sunday, according to a readout from the White House. Their discussion on trade comes amid Trump’s threat to place tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China on Feb. 1.
Trump has repeatedly complained about trade deficits and barriers, signaling he’ll use tariffs to bring bilateral trade into balance. It’s not yet clear how high or widespread any such levies would be. He imposed tariffs and travel bans on Colombia on Sunday, after the South American country refused to allow two planes carrying deported migrants to land on its soil.
While the US and UK are historically close allies, Trump’s policy agenda puts him at odds with the UK in several areas, including plans to begin trade tariffs, which could affect UK exports even if he chooses not to directly target Britain.
Starmer sought to identify the few similarities between their economic plans on the call, by telling Trump of his government’s move to deregulate planning regulation in order to boost economic growth. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to green-light a series of major infrastructure projects in a speech later this week.
Starmer and Trump also discussed the ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza, and promised to work together on security in the Middle East during their call.
The UK is seeking a constructive relationship with Trump’s administration, despite Starmer — whose center-left Labour Party entered office last year — holding opposing political views to Trump.
The premier is expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks. He first met Trump over dinner in New York in September during the US presidential campaign, after which Trump described them as “friends,” Bloomberg reported last year.
Ahead of the call, Trump praised Starmer for doing a “very good job” during his first months in office and said that while the two leaders had different political outlooks, they had a “very good” relationship.
“I like him a lot. He’s liberal, which is a little bit different for me. But I think he is a very good person. And I think he’s done a very good job thus far,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday.
Trump said that the UK and Saudi Arabia were both under consideration for his first trip abroad in his second term. The Middle Eastern country was his first foreign trip in 2017 when he entered the White House.
--With assistance from Josh Wingrove.
(Updates with White House readout from second paragraph.)
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