The EU is ready to defend its interests with proportionate countermeasures to US President Donald Trump's tariffs and will work together with its partners in this direction, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today after a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, "Reuters" reported, quoted by BNR.
Von der Leyen indicated that the 27-member bloc wants to work closely with Britain in the field of security and defense and expressed concern about Russia's procrastination in efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.
She will meet Starmer in London on April 24 within the framework of the International Conference on the Future of Energy security.
"The world as we knew it no longer exists", British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a comment for the "Sunday Telegraph" newspaper, quoted by BNR, promising to help "protect British business from the storm of American tariffs".
Keir Starmer said that his government was ready to use adequate industrial policies "to protect British business from the storm". The Prime Minister promised to do whatever it takes to protect the national interest and revealed that the government would intervene to protect people's jobs.
"Some people may feel uncomfortable with the idea that the state should intervene directly to shape the market and such ideas are often ridiculed. But we simply cannot be slaves to old feelings when the world is turning so fast,” writes Keir Starmer.
The measures could include urgent reforms to reduce regulatory red tape, as well as targeted tax relief to help struggling sectors, with interventions expected to be announced this week.
Meanwhile, Darren Jones, the deputy chancellor and chief secretary to the Treasury, told the BBC this morning that "the era of globalisation as we know it is over".
He added that people should be prepared for things to be tougher in the global economy. Jones said the government believed a deal could be reached with Trump on tariffs in ongoing negotiations. He believes the UK is in a better position than many other comparable countries as a result of British diplomacy.