Trio of trade deals ‘restored identity' of UK, PM says as trade plan unveiled
Since Donald Trump's tariff announcements in April, the UK has reached new agreements with the US, India and the EU.
Sir Keir said the deals showed 'that even in this volatile world, Britain is proudly, unashamedly, defiantly even, open for business, and today's trade strategy builds on that'.
The Government's Trade Strategy aims to boost opportunities for UK businesses, particularly in the service sector, to export internationally, and vows to protect domestic firms from global threats to free trade.
It comes at a time of heightened uncertainty following Donald Trump's tariff announcements in April, which have hiked charges on most US imports in a bid to boost home-grown production and support US businesses.
In the paper, ministers pledge to 'confront the threat that protectionism poses to the UK by significantly upgrading our trade defence toolkit'.
This includes clamping down on unfair trading practices, such as the 'dumping' of goods at low costs in foreign markets, which is believed to disadvantage domestic businesses.
In the wake of the tariff announcements, some British retailers raised concerns that Chinese products were being rerouted from the US and deposited on UK and European online marketplaces like Shein and Amazon.
Meanwhile, the strategy outlines measures to make it easier for UK firms to export, including reducing barriers to trading overseas and improving access to finance.
Sir Keir suggested he would pursue a series of small deals rather than solely focusing on major trade agreements with countries.
'But perhaps most importantly, in this uncertain and challenging world, we will also give ourselves new powers on trade defence,' he said.
'To make sure that if your businesses are threatened by practices like dumping, that we have the right powers to defend you.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
41 minutes ago
- The Guardian
US voters: share your views on Trump's one big beautiful bill act
The one big beautiful bill act, which would enact Donald Trump's taxation and spending priorities, is currently being considered in the US Senate. The legislation was passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in May. Republicans, who also have a narrow Senate majority, are likely to make changes to the more than 1,000-page tax-and-spending bill. Trump wants to sign the legislation by 4 July, but it's unclear whether Republicans in both chambers can agree on its provisions by that deadline. We would like to hear views from voters about the one big beautiful bill act. What do you think of the bill as it's currently written? And, what would you like included in Trump's major piece of tax-and-spending legislation? We're particularly interested in hearing from Republican voters. Share your views in the form below or by messaging us. Please include as much detail as possible. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first. Contact us on WhatsApp at +447766780300. For more information, please see our guidance on contacting us via WhatsApp. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service instead.
Reuters
41 minutes ago
- Reuters
Apple changes App Store rules in EU to comply with antitrust order
SAN FRANCISCO, June 26 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab on Thursday changed rules and fees in its App Store in the European Union after the bloc's antitrust regulators ordered it to remove commercial barriers to sending customers outside the store. Apple said developers will pay a 20% processing fee for purchases made via the App Store, though the fees could go as low as 13% for Apple's small-business program. Developers who send customers outside the App Store for payment will pay a minimum fee of 5% and at most 15%. Developers will also be able to use as many links as they wish to send users to outside forms of payment. The changes are aimed at trying to help Apple avoid a 500 million euro ($570 million) fine threatened by EU antitrust regulators in April. 'The European Commission is requiring Apple to make a series of additional changes to the App Store. We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal," Apple said in a statement.
The Independent
42 minutes ago
- The Independent
EU leaders seek a big boost in Ukraine military support but make little progress on Russia sanctions
European Union leaders on Thursday called for even greater efforts to help meet Ukraine 's pressing military needs, and expressed support for the country's quest to join their ranks, but they made little headway with new sanctions against Russia. At a summit in Brussels, the leaders said it was important to deliver more 'air defense and anti-drone systems, and large-calibre ammunition, to help Ukraine, as it exercises its inherent right to self-defence, to protect its citizens and territory against Russia's intensified daily attacks.' They also underlined the need to help support Ukraine's defense industry, which can make weapons and ammunition more quickly and cheaply than its European counterparts. Ukrainian President Vololdymyr Zelenskyy took part in the meeting via videolink. Russian forces have made slow gains at some points on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, but it has been costly in terms of troop casualties and damaged equipment. The outnumbered Ukrainian army has relied heavily on drones to keep the Russians back. Months of U.S.-led international efforts to stop the more than three years of war have failed. As hostilities have ground on, the two sides have continued to swap prisoners of war. The leaders said the bloc 'remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's path towards EU membership.' That message comes a day after NATO leaders refrained from putting a reference to Ukraine's hopes of joining the military organization in their summit statement, due in large part to U.S. resistance. The EU is working on yet another raft of sanctions against Russia, but the leaders made little headway. A key aim is to make further progress in blocking Russia's 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers and their operators from earning more revenue for Moscow's war effort. The EU has slapped several rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine in February 24, 2022. More than 2,400 officials and entities – usually government agencies, banks and organizations – have been hit. The statement on Ukraine was agreed by 26 of the 27 member countries. Hungary objected, as it has often done. At a NATO summit on Wednesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that 'NATO has no business in Ukraine. Ukraine is not member of NATO, neither Russia. My job is to keep it as it is.' In other developments, the EU leaders deplored 'the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation.' They called 'on Israel to fully lift its blockade.' They also said that their European Council 'takes note' of a report saying that there are signs that Israel's actions in Gaza are violating human rights obligations in an agreement governing EU-Israel ties. The report was debated by EU foreign ministers on Monday, but the bloc is divided over what to do about it. The ministers will discuss the issue again at their next meeting on July 15. Suspending ties, including on trade, would require a unanimous decision, which is likely impossible to obtain from staunch backers of Israel like Austria, Germany and Hungary. The head of the main Greens party group in the European Parliament, Bas Eickhout said that 'the EU is losing all credibility in light of the devastating conflicts raging in the Middle East,' and insisted that the Association Agreement must be suspended. ___ Associated Press writers Lorne Cook and Sylvie Corbet in Brussels contributed to this report.
