London [UK]: In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariff measures, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer engaged in high-level discussions with key European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to address the broader implications for the global economy.
A statement from Downing Street on Sunday confirmed that Prime Minister Starmer had conversations with both von der Leyen and Scholz, as well as German CDU leader Friedrich Merz, to coordinate a response to the US’s protectionist shift.
“They all agreed that — as with defence and security — this is a new era for the global economy,” the statement read. “Europe must rise to meet the moment and ensure the impact on hard-working people is minimised, while working closely with other countries to help maintain wider economic stability.”
Although expressing disappointment over the newly imposed tariffs, Starmer reiterated that the UK will prioritise national interest, calling for resilience and diversification in trade relations.
“The UK PM reiterated that he was disappointed by the new tariffs and stressed he will continue to act in the UK’s national interest — remaining calm while preparing for all eventualities,” the statement added. “He updated on his plans to go further and faster to strengthen the UK’s economy and ensure it is as resilient as possible.”
Ursula von der Leyen, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said:
“Just spoke with @Keir_Starmer and shared my concern over the impact of the US tariffs on the global economy. We also discussed security and defence and the upcoming EU-UK Summit.”
Context: The US Tariff Wave
On April 2, President Trump announced a major escalation in tariffs, implementing a policy of reciprocity — imposing duties on imports from countries that tax American goods. The policy comes shortly after Trump resumed office for a second term in February, pledging to correct trade imbalances and protect American jobs.
As per the new policy, the tariffs are as follows:
- China (34%)
- European Union (20%)
- Vietnam (46%)
- Taiwan (32%)
- Japan (24%)
- India (26%)
- United Kingdom (10%)
- Bangladesh (37%)
- Pakistan (29%)
- Sri Lanka (44%)
- Israel (17%)
From April 9, countries with significant trade surpluses against the US will face customised, elevated tariffs. The UK, with a 10% tariff, now joins the list of impacted allies — sparking broader concerns of a fragmenting global trade environment.