The United Kingdom is preparing “for the worst” over the prospect of United States tariffs.
This was disclosed by David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary, on Tuesday.
Lammy, however, urged the UK government to continue intense conversations with the United States administration on getting an economic agreement.
“We're an open-trading nation. We have been that under successive governments,” Lammy tells MPs in Parliament.
“It is hugely important at this time that we continue the intense conversations we are having with the US administration on getting an economic agreement but of course we prepare for the worst.”
This comes after United States president Donald Trump had week said he was open to carving out deals with countries seeking to avoid US tariffs, but those agreements would have to be negotiated after his administration announces reciprocal levies on April 2.
Trump said countries including Britain had approached the US to try to cut deals and prevent the reciprocal tariffs.
Last weekend, British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and Trump discussed negotiations towards a UK-US economic prosperity deal.
Both two leaders said negotiations would continue this week and agreed to stay in touch in the coming days.
