MBS, UK PM discuss global trade tariffs in phone call: Downing Street
Starmer reiterated his commitment to working closely with international partners to maintain global economic stability. 'He added that the UK will continue to take a measured and calm approach,' the spokeswoman said after the call.
The two also discussed strengthening economic ties and agreed to build on the 'good progress so far on the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement,' the spokeswoman added.
Starmer and MBS also spoke about ways to deepen the defense and security cooperation between their two countries.
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Arab News
15 minutes ago
- Arab News
Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks as EU trade deal nears
EDINBURGH/LONDON: US President Donald Trump, dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arrived in Scotland on Friday for some golf and bilateral talks that could yield a trade deal with the European Union. Trump told reporters upon his arrival that he will visit his two golf properties in Scotland and meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom he called a 'highly respected woman.' As hundreds of onlookers cheered his arrival, Trump repeated his earlier comment about a 50-50 chance of securing a deal with the EU, adding it would be his administration's biggest trade agreement thus far, if it came together. However, he said there were still 'sticking points' with Brussels on 'maybe 20 different things.' Trump said his meeting with Starmer would be more of a celebration of the trade deal already reached than continued work on it, adding, 'It's a great deal for both.' Before he left Washington, Trump said his administration was working hard on a possible trade deal with the EU, and Brussels was keen to make a deal. Von der Leyen said later she would meet Trump in Scotland on Sunday. EU diplomats say a deal could result in a 15 percent tariff on EU goods, mirroring a framework accord with Japan reached this week and half of the 30 percent Trump is threatening to impose by August 1. Trump has sought to reorder the global economy after imposing a 10 percent tariff on nearly all trading partners in April and threatening sharply higher rates for many countries to kick in a week from now. Trump says the moves will reduce the US trade deficit and bring in extra revenue, but economists warn the new trade policies could drive up inflation. Trump, facing the biggest domestic political crisis of his second term, expressed frustration about ongoing questions about his administration's handling of investigative files related to Epstein's criminal charges and his 2019 death in prison. 'You make it a very big thing over something that's not a big thing,' Trump told reporters in Scotland, urging them to focus on other prominent Americans with ties to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton. 'Talk about Clinton. Talk about the former president of Harvard. Talk about all of his friends. Talk about the hedge fund guys that were with him all the time. Don't talk about Trump,' he said. 'What you should be talking about is the fact that we have the greatest six months in the history of a presidency.' The Epstein issue has caused a rare breach with some of Trump's most loyal Make America Great Again supporters, and majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believe the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. White House officials are hoping the controversy dies down while Trump is abroad, two people familiar with the matter said. Trump will stay at his Turnberry property on Scotland's west coast this weekend, before traveling on Monday to a golf property in Aberdeen, where he will open a second 18-hole course named in honor of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. MacLeod was born and raised on a Scottish island before emigrating to the US As he left the White House, Trump said he looked forward to meeting both Starmer and Scottish leader John Swinney, who had publicly backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election. The trip gives Trump and Starmer a chance to deepen their already warm ties, with key issues on the agenda to include ending Russia's war in Ukraine, British and US sources said. The deteriorating situation in Gaza is also likely to come up. Starmer on Thursday said he would hold an emergency call with France and Germany over what he called the 'unspeakable and indefensible' suffering and starvation being reported there, and called on Israel to allow aid to enter the Palestinian enclave. Gaza health authorities say more than 100 people have died from starvation, most in recent weeks. Human rights groups have said mass starvation is spreading even as tons of food and other supplies sit untouched just outside the territory. Since being elected last year, Starmer has prioritized good relations with Trump, stressing the importance of Britain's defense and security alliance with the US, while working to clinch the first tariff-reduction deal with the US in May. The framework agreement reaffirmed quotas and tariff rates on British automobiles and eliminated tariffs on the UK's aerospace sector, but left steel tariffs in place. Starmer is expected to press for lower steel tariffs, but sources close to the matter said it was unclear if any breakthrough was possible during Trump's visit. Trump has described Scotland as a 'very special place' and made a similar trip there in 2016 during his earlier run for the presidency, but he will not necessarily get a warm welcome. About 70 percent of Scots have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, while 18 percent have a favorable opinion, an Ipsos poll in March found. Scottish police are girding for protests on Saturday in both Aberdeen and in Edinburgh, the country's capital. Trump will return to Britain from September 17-19 for a state visit hosted by King Charles. It will make Trump the first world leader in modern times to undertake two state visits to Britain. The late Queen Elizabeth hosted him at Buckingham Palace for a three-day state visit in June 2019.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
UN urges UK to repeal ‘disproportionate' Palestine Action ban
GENEVA: The United Nations rights chief on Friday slammed Britain's ban on activist group Palestine Action as a 'disturbing' misuse of UK counter-terrorism legislation and urged the government to rescind its move. 'The decision appears disproportionate and unnecessary,' Volker Turk said in a statement. The ban, introduced under Britain's Terrorism Act 2000, took effect earlier this month after activists from the group broke into an air force base in southern England. Two aircraft were sprayed with red paint, causing an estimated £7.0 million ($9.55 million) in damage. Turk's statement said the ban raised 'serious concerns that counter-terrorism laws are being applied to conduct that is not terrorist in nature, and risks hindering the legitimate exercise of fundamental freedoms across the UK.' He stressed: 'According to international standards, terrorist acts should be confined to criminal acts intended to cause death or serious injury or to the taking of hostages, for purpose of intimidating a population or to compel a government to take a certain action or not.' But the ban among other things makes it a criminal offense to be a member of Palestine Action, to express support for the group or wear items of clothing that would arouse 'reasonable suspicion' that the person is a member or supporter of the group, Turk pointed out. UK police have arrested at least 200 people during protests, many of them peaceful, over the ban since it took effect, the UN rights office said. Palestine Action itself has condemned its outlawing — which makes it a criminal offense to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison — as an attack on free speech. The UN high commissioner for human rights agreed. The ban, Turk said, 'limits the rights of many people involved with and supportive of Palestine Action who have not themselves engaged in any underlying criminal activity but rather exercised their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.' 'As such, it appears to constitute an impermissible restriction on those rights that is at odds with the UK's obligations under international human rights law.' The rights chief warned that the government's decision 'also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism and so could readily lead to further chilling effect on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people.' 'I urge the UK government to rescind its decision to proscribe Palestine Action and to halt investigations and further proceedings against protesters who have been arrested on the basis of this proscription,' he said. 'I also call on the UK government to review and revise its counter-terrorism legislation, including its definition of terrorist acts, to bring it fully in line with international human rights norms and standards.'
Leaders
2 hours ago
- Leaders
UK to Hold Urgent Talks with France, Germany over Gaza War
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that he would hold an 'emergency call' on Friday with France and Germany to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to Reuters. 'We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,' Starmer said. Call for Urgent Ceasefire He called for an urgent ceasefire and steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. 'I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace,' he said in a statement on Thursday. Starmer also noted that the immediate ceasefire will 'put us on a path' to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis. Furthermore, the PM stated that the situation in Gaza has 'reached new depths and continues to deteriorate,' nearly 21 months after the beginning of the war in October 2023. 'The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible,' Starmer said. Mounting Pressure on Israel Currently, the Israeli government is facing mounting international pressure as well as criticism to allow a massive increase in humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza amid growing concerns of imminent famine. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 137,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. On Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. 'True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will make a formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September,' the French head of state wrote on X and Instagram. Moreover, Canada has condemned Israel's failure to put an end to the unthinkable humanitarian conditions in Gaza after almost 21 months of war, according to Al Arabiya. In a post on X, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'disaster,' accusing Israel of violating international law by blocking the Canadian-funded aid from delivery to civilians in Gaza. 'Canada calls on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith. We reiterate our calls for Hamas to immediately release all the hostages, and for the Israeli government to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza,' Carney said. Related Topics: Time for Decisive Action: Over 100 Aid Agencies Warn of Mass Starvation in Gaza EU Urges Israel to Halt Killings at Gaza Aid Points US Envoy to Finalize Gaza Aid Corridor Amid Starvation Crisis Short link : Post Views: 100
