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KEMI Badenoch says a trade deal with Donald Trump must be urgently struck — or Britain could be economically “kneecapped”.
The new Tory leader wants the PM to push for a pact to drive up investment and living standards.
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She says there is a landmark deal on the shelf drawn up with the previous Trump White House administration in 2020 “ready to be dusted off”.
Ms Badenoch said: “If President Trump does pursue a new protectionist tariff regime, it would be terrible news for the UK.
Only a Free Trade Agreement will protect us.
“It shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for Labour. The return of President Trump is that golden opportunity.”
In the Sunday Telegraph, she warned: “If trade barriers go up without mitigations in place, Britain will be economically, politically and diplomatically kneecapped.”
British firms working in car manufacturing, chemicals and financial services would all likely benefit from a deal.
The President-elect is considering imposing tariffs of between ten to 20 per cent or even as high as 60 per cent on goods from China, which would likely spark a trade war.
Treasury minister Darren Jones appeared to stand back when pressed yesterday on whether he would like a deal.
He told LBC Radio: “It depends what it is that is on offer, if there is an offer. We’ll have to cross those bridges when we come to it.”
