Trade wars - how will it effect the UK?

You may be right Maizie but he wants a legacy.
He also wants to show his POWER round the world - like all dictators!
🙄

We don't have a 'hand'. We chucked away what we did have. But we can cultivate supportive allies, make alternative deals if need be. Sit tight and bear it. Grow vegetables and make our own clothes, accept rationing with good grace... 😁🤣

Barleyfields so sadly my mp wrote extensively about the 22 billion black hole in his feeble explanation of why our local hospital is not being rebuilt until 2032. You can’t mean it’s not true?

I have never believed that the UK is broke or that there is a £22m black hole, save in Reeves’s imagination. She’s brainwashed people, and sadly it seems to have worked in some cases.

MaizieD yes I know that too. But when dealing with Trump just what hand do we play?
Also just be thankful you can ride a horse …. Some of us haven’t the opportunity!

Black holes aren't science at all. Any more than economics is 'science'. A great deal of economics is pure magical thinking...

ronib

Rachel Reeves has a brain? MaizieD. We don’t hold a very good hand do we in negotiations with a bully?

She has a bi black hole in her brain where her economic knowledge should be.

Take it from me and a great many economists, the UK is not broke. It's being held hostage to a pointless and damaging obsession with a fiscal 'golden rule'.

It is, though, going to be destroyed by Reeves' determination not to invest in improving the public sector until her magical 'growth' occurs. An event about as likely as me riding in an international Three Day Event...(I'm sorry to say)

MaizieD

ronib

But the £22 billion black hole definitely ties our hands in the UK? There’s no money so we have to fall in line as we can’t afford not to. Surely?

That is complete bollocks nonsense, ronib. The only place that a 'black hole' exists is in Rachel Reeves' brain.

Casdon is absolutely correct. It's irrelevant.

The only place that a 'black hole' exists is in Rachel Reeves' brain.
🤣🤣

"Black holes" are not an exact-science - they are largely based on theory and future projections, and the sum can therefore be 'moved' accordingly, but I think it suits Reeves if the electorate believe there's a ruddy great jar on the shelf with a 'missing' £22 billion, which we've got to replace, or else!

... It's just a crude political device which allows governments leeway to abandon election promises.

I think we’ll have to wait and see.

We have something to offer which Trump desperately wants - all the pomp and pageantry of a State visit, with him centre stage. I would bet on him not prejudicing that. We are, as has been said, just a bit player in the great scheme of things but we have something unique which his ego can’t resist.

Rachel Reeves has a brain? MaizieD. We don’t hold a very good hand do we in negotiations with a bully?

ronib

Casdon my hunch is that a deal will be announced between Uk and USA and we will have no choice in the matter. We are so broke it’s not funny.

That sounds like appeasement

Casdon my hunch is that a deal will be announced between Uk and USA and we will have no choice in the matter. We are so broke it’s not funny.

ronib

But the £22 billion black hole definitely ties our hands in the UK? There’s no money so we have to fall in line as we can’t afford not to. Surely?

That is complete bollocks nonsense, ronib. The only place that a 'black hole' exists is in Rachel Reeves' brain.

Casdon is absolutely correct. It's irrelevant.

That’s irrelevant.

But the £22 billion black hole definitely ties our hands in the UK? There’s no money so we have to fall in line as we can’t afford not to. Surely?

ronib

The UK is in a weak financial position overall and is not in any position to argue with Trump about tariffs. I imagine that we will meekly accept whatever terms Trump offers us . Not sure how Milliband will cope as the deal is bound to include buying American oil and gas. We have been well outplayed?

I’m not sure you understand how small the UK is in the greater scheme of things ronib. We are 12th on the list of countries who import to the USA, those that Trump wants to target, and we have a trade deficit with the USA. We are bit players.

Luckygirl3

Everyone is being outplayed.

There is a coup being effected in the US. So far there doesn't seem to be much resistance, I think because everyone is either totally gobsmacked if they're not in agreement.

I don't know what Trump is going to do about the financial markets as they all seem to be going against him... His billionaire followers won't be liking that very much though...

I don't think that the rest of the world needs to cave into Trump's demands...

Luckygirl3

Everyone is being outplayed.

I’m not convinced yet lucky

Personally I think that there is all to play for.

Canada is so far taking him at his own game and we must support them.

Likewise the EU, - it seems that tariffs are going to wing their way, so it must be reciprocated and we must stand firm!!

No bully should ever win.

Everyone is being outplayed.

The UK is in a weak financial position overall and is not in any position to argue with Trump about tariffs. I imagine that we will meekly accept whatever terms Trump offers us . Not sure how Milliband will cope as the deal is bound to include buying American oil and gas. We have been well outplayed?

You know, NotSpaghetti, I find it really hard to believe that Trump is genuinely worried about fentanyl. I know it’s a massive problem in the US, but I find Trump’s ‘concern’ completely unconvincing.

David49
The Volkswagen plant in Mexico is one of their largest plants.

Luckygirl3

UK government needs to sit tight and play the long game. They are wise not to jump in.

Exactly

growstuff

The main UK imports from the US by value are petroleum, cars and various electrical goods and components. The UK's main exports to the US are machinery, cars and pharmaceuticals.

Thanks growstuff.