Trading With Our Allies, Standing Up to Trump

Motion as submitted prior to debate

Submitted by: 12 Members 
Mover: To be announced 
Summation: To be announced

Conference notes with concern that:

1. On July 23rd, president Trump hit dozens of countries, including the UK, with new tariffs, after the Supreme Court ruled his previous ‘liberation day’ tariffs illegal.
2. The US Government has begun accepting refund applications from businesses around the world for the legally void tariffs they paid, with $100 billion already refunded.
3. On August 22nd, the Trump administration escalated its trade war against Canada, by applying 50 per cent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian imports.
4. In August, the White House threatened the UK with 100 per cent tariffs over Britain’s Digital Services Tax, levied on global tech giants, with the Burnham Government reportedly being “open to discussing US concerns”.

Conference reaffirms Liberal Democrat commitments to championing free trade and expanding the UK's multilateral partnerships with counterparts whom Britain can rely on – particularly in Europe and the Commonwealth.

Conference therefore calls on the Government to:

1. Immediately drop its red lines on Europe and negotiate a new Growth and Defence Partnership with the EU, including joining the Single Market and a new Customs Union.
2. Offset Trump’s latest tariffs in the short term, by urgently securing participation in the EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ scheme, vital for our steel industry; concluding an SPS agreement for food and agricultural produce; and securing regulatory alignment in key areas, such as the mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
3. Stand shoulder to shoulder with Canada, commit to closer trade links with our Commonwealth allies and build an economic coalition of the willing to end Trump’s trade war.
4. Launch a new initiative supporting eligible UK businesses in claiming US tariff refunds, including raising awareness and providing information and advice.
5. Defend British taxpayers against Trump by resisting US pressure to water down or scrap the Digital Services Tax.

Applicability: Federal