BBCPresident-elect Donald Trump will want to do a good deal with the UK, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones has insisted.Jones, the chancellor’s second-in-command, said he was confident UK-US trading relationships could be deepened and that Peter Mandelson will be “brilliant” as the new UK ambassador to the US.However, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer is in a “weak” negotiating position due to his wish to strengthen ties with the EU at the same time as with the US.The PM has insisted he can walk a tightrope and balance strong trading and security relationships on both sides, despite Trump’s dislike of the EU.But some nervousness seems apparent, with Lord Mandelson, launching a charm offensive ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Monday, lauding his “straight talking and deal-making instincts” and talking up a new “Atlantic alliance”.Jones said the government was optimistic about the chances of a good relationship with the incoming administration, highlighting “opportunities for us to seize” around a potential post-Brexit trade deal, which he suggested could include technology.”Donald Trump is well-known for wanting to do a good deal – I think there are plenty of good deals for us to do together,” he said.”There are definitely opportunities to deepen our trading relationships, not least in technology, science and research… and I think that’s something that could be a positive outcome.”Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the Treasury minister suggested the UK could dodge Trump’s pledge for a 20% tax on all imports into the US due to not being in a “trade deficit”, adding ministers have “prepared for all scenarios”.Jones also expressed confidence Lord Mandelson will “form a very strong partnership with the new administration”, despite some reports that the incoming president may reject him – and a top Trump adviser dismissing him as an “absolute moron”.The appointment of Lord Mandelson, who is best-known as a New Labour spin doctor and minister under Tony Blair, is the first time in 50 years that a PM has selected a politician rather than a diplomat for the role, which Jones said was “because we want to do things differently”.Asked about the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warning of “resurgent fascism” ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Jones stro …
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnBBCPresident-elect Donald Trump will want to do a good deal with the UK, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones has insisted.Jones, the chancellor’s second-in-command, said he was confident UK-US trading relationships could be deepened and that Peter Mandelson will be “brilliant” as the new UK ambassador to the US.However, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer is in a “weak” negotiating position due to his wish to strengthen ties with the EU at the same time as with the US.The PM has insisted he can walk a tightrope and balance strong trading and security relationships on both sides, despite Trump’s dislike of the EU.But some nervousness seems apparent, with Lord Mandelson, launching a charm offensive ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Monday, lauding his “straight talking and deal-making instincts” and talking up a new “Atlantic alliance”.Jones said the government was optimistic about the chances of a good relationship with the incoming administration, highlighting “opportunities for us to seize” around a potential post-Brexit trade deal, which he suggested could include technology.”Donald Trump is well-known for wanting to do a good deal – I think there are plenty of good deals for us to do together,” he said.”There are definitely opportunities to deepen our trading relationships, not least in technology, science and research… and I think that’s something that could be a positive outcome.”Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the Treasury minister suggested the UK could dodge Trump’s pledge for a 20% tax on all imports into the US due to not being in a “trade deficit”, adding ministers have “prepared for all scenarios”.Jones also expressed confidence Lord Mandelson will “form a very strong partnership with the new administration”, despite some reports that the incoming president may reject him – and a top Trump adviser dismissing him as an “absolute moron”.The appointment of Lord Mandelson, who is best-known as a New Labour spin doctor and minister under Tony Blair, is the first time in 50 years that a PM has selected a politician rather than a diplomat for the role, which Jones said was “because we want to do things differently”.Asked about the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warning of “resurgent fascism” ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Jones stro …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]
