Britain will not hastily pursue a trade deal with the United States or alter its food or car safety standards, stated Rachel Reeves, the British chancellor of the Exchequer, during her visit to Washington on Wednesday.
In response to inquiries regarding reports that the Trump administration sought to lower Britain's car tariffs from 10 percent to 2.5 percent, Ms. Reeves emphasized her intention to reduce trade barriers with other nations instead.
The British government has been actively seeking a trade agreement with the U.S. to mitigate the economic impact of increased tariffs imposed by President Trump on imports. Numerous countries are in line to negotiate with the Trump administration, yet Ms. Reeves did not provide a timeline for when a deal might be reached.
Ahead of her initial in-person meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Ms. Reeves outlined non-negotiable positions for the British government, including maintaining current food standards and car safety regulations. U.S. officials have historically pushed for increased exports of agricultural products and cars in trade discussions.
“These are discussions around tariffs and trade barriers, but we are not going to be changing our standards based on asks from foreign governments,” Ms. Reeves asserted. “Decisions around food standards, around digital services, around auto standards are decisions for the U.K. government to make.”
Her discussions with Mr. Bessent would primarily focus on fostering a partnership centered on technology.
Ms. Reeves acknowledged that the Trump administration's emphasis on “fair” trade practices is valid. “I believe in free trade, but it also has to be fair trade,” she noted, recognizing the U.S. perspective on existing global economic imbalances.
Furthermore, on Wednesday, Ms. Reeves announced that the British government would take measures to prevent the influx of cheap goods into the country, a concern echoed by European officials. The government plans to review customs rules that permit goods valued up to £135 ($180) to enter without incurring duties. This initiative aims to assist retailers who argue they are being undermined by fast-fashion retailers like the Chinese company Shein.
This approach is reminiscent of an executive order issued by Mr. Trump to eliminate the de minimis exemption, which allowed retailers to ship goods valued at $800 or less from China to American consumers without paying tariffs.