Trading With Our Allies, Standing Up to Trump

Last summer, President Trump escalated his damaging trade war. He hit dozens of countries with new tariffs, Britain among them, and he did it after the Supreme Court had already ruled his previous "liberation day" tariffs illegal. 

He also hit Canada, one of our closest Commonwealth allies, with 50% tariffs that will affect 20 billion dollars of Canadian exports. And he revived threats of 100% tariffs on the UK over Britain’s Digital Services Tax.

This is yet another act of bullying from an unreliable US President, threatening free trade and prosperity not just in the UK, but also in the US and across the global economy.

The best way for Britain to stand up against Trump is to expand our multilateral partnerships with our reliable allies – particularly in Europe and the Commonwealth. 

That is why Liberal Democrat members have passed a new motion calling for deeper ties with Europe, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Canada, and supporting British exporters impacted by unlawful US import duties.

Trading with our allies and championing free trade

To protect our economy, boost British businesses, and reinforce global trade stability, we are calling on the Government to:

• Negotiate a new Growth and Defence Partnership with the EU, including joining the Single Market and a Customs Union.
   
• Immediately offset Trump’s latest tariffs by urgently securing UK participation in the EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ scheme, signing a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement for food and agriculture, and securing mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
   
• Build an economic coalition of the willing: Stand in firm solidarity with Canada, strengthen trade links across Commonwealth allies, and forge an international coalition to counter unilateral trade aggression.
   
• Support UK businesses in claiming US tariff refunds: Launch a new initiative supporting eligible UK businesses in claiming US tariff refunds, including raising awareness and providing information and advice.
   
• Defend the Digital Services Tax: Stand firm against US pressure to scrap or dilute the UK's Digital Services Tax, ensuring global tech giants continue to pay their fair share here in Britain.

To build a thriving economy in the face of global economic turmoil, we must unleash the power of British businesses to trade with our closest partners. 

The Liberal Democrats will continue to champion open, fair trade, defend British economic interests, and build reliable alliances across Europe and the Commonwealth.