UK PM Starmer says a trade war is in no one’s interest

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00The British Prime Minister called the American president's use of tariffs against allies completely wrong,

00:06but indicated Britain was not yet thinking about retaliatory measures.

00:10Look, a tariff war is in nobody's interests, and we have not got to that stage,

00:15and my focus therefore is making sure we don't get to that stage.

00:19Although the dispute threatens to append the NATO alliance that's underpinned Western security for decades,

00:25Kistama added that he did not believe Donald Trump was considering military action.

00:30His was a more conciliatory tone than other European countries.

00:33Germany and France said Monday that the EU was preparing trade countermeasures.

00:38We are constantly experiencing new provocations, we are constantly experiencing new antagonism,

00:44which President Trump is seeking, and here we Europeans must make it clear that the limit has been reached.

00:50Trump has vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs from February 1st

00:54on eight European countries, including Britain and six EU members,

00:59until the US is allowed to buy Greenland.

01:02In response, Brussels is considering reactivating retaliatory tariffs imposed on Washington last August

01:08on 93 billion euros' worth of US imports.

01:11It's also wielding its anti-coercion instrument known as a bazooka,

01:15a tool which can be used in the event of economic blackmail.

01:18Then the European Union can respond in kind and can adopt tariffs or restrict foreign direct investment flowing to the union from that country

01:27or prevent the businesses of that third country from operating in the union.

01:32The European Union said it was holding an emergency summit on Thursday

01:35and that while its priority is to engage, not escalate, it is ready to act if needed.

01:42The topic is likely to be a key theme in Davos too, at the World Economic Forum, which Trump will address on Wednesday.

01:49We'll see you safe now on Wednesday.

01:50Thanks for listening.

01:51n

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