Latest news with #LordMandelson
Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Peter Mandelson meets George Ford and jokes: ‘I don't take any prisoners'
When George Ford was appointed England rugby captain to face Argentina he expected to run into some big hitters. Sir Tony Blair and Lord Mandelson were not the two he had in mind. On the tour, first in Argentina, now in the capital of the United States, Ford has met both politicians. Before his 100th cap nearly two weeks ago, a video message dropped from the former prime minister. At the British Embassy in Washington, it was Mandelson, the US ambassador, wanting to talk about sport. 'I have long admired rugby,' Mandelson said. 'It is a magnificent contest of force and skill. It's like politics. And I was quite good because I'm quite forceful and I don't take any prisoners. I like getting stuck in. I don't settle for half measures, rather like politics.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Donald Trump announces 30% tariffs on goods from the EU and Mexico
Donald Trump announced on Saturday that goods imported from both the European Union and Mexico will face a 30% US tariff rate starting 1 August, in letters posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. The tariff assault on the EU came as a shock to European capitals as the European Commission and the US trade representative Jamieson Greer had spent months hammering out a deal they believed was acceptable to both sides. The agreement in principle put on Trump's table last Wednesday involved a 10% tariff, five times the pre-Trump tariff, which the bloc already described as 'pain'. EU trade ministers will meet on Monday for a pre-arranged summit and will be under pressure from some countries to show a tough reaction by implementing €21bn ($24.6bn) in retaliatory measures, which they had paused until midnight the same day. Related: Trump's 10% tariff on most UK goods 'here to stay', says Lord Mandelson In his letter to Mexico's leader, Trump acknowledged that the country had been helpful in stemming the flow of undocumented immigrants and fentanyl into the United States. But, he said, the country had not done enough to stop North America from turning into a 'Narco-Trafficking Playground'. 'We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with The European Union, and we have concluded we must move away from these long-term, large, and persistent, Trade Deficits, engendered by your Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies, and Trade Barriers,' Trump wrote in the letter to the EU. 'Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.' Claudia Sheinbaum said on Saturday she is sure an agreement can be reached before Trump's threatened tariffs take effect on 1 August. Speaking during an event in the Mexican state of Sonora, the Mexican president added that Mexico's sovereignty is never negotiable. The higher-than-expected rate has dealt a blow to the EU's hopes of de-escalation and a trade deal and could risk a trade war with goods of low margins including Belgian chocolate, Irish butter and Italian olive oil. The EU was informed of the tariff hike before Trump's declaration on social media. In a letter to the EU, Trump warned that the EU would pay a price if they retaliated: 'If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs and retaliate, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 30% that we charge.' European leaders respond The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the 30% rate would 'disrupt transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic'. She said the bloc was one of the more open trading places in the world, and still hoped to persuade Trump to climb down. 'We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required,' she said. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, called on the bloc to 'resolutely defend European interests'. Expressing Paris's 'very strong disapproval' of Trump's announcement, Macron urged the EU to 'step up the preparation of credible countermeasures by mobilising all instruments at its disposal' if the two sides failed to reach agreement by 1 August. Germany's economy minister, Katherina Reiche, called on the EU to 'negotiate in a pragmatic manner', while the Federation of German Industries (BDI) warned that a trade conflict between the two partners 'harms economic recovery, innovation strength, and ultimately confidence in international cooperation.' Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, called for 'goodwill … to reach a fair agreement that can strengthen the west as a whole. It would make no sense to trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic.' She added that both sides should avoid 'polarisation'. The decision to hike the tariffs will also be another test of Trump's ability to act in good faith in negotiations. Related: Young people don't feel part of the EU – and they're right | Francesco Grillo Brussels will view the latest threat as a maneuver by Trump to extract more concessions from the EU, which he once described as 'nastier' than China when it came to trade. Bernd Lange, the head of the European Parliament's trade committee, said on Saturday that Brussels should react immediately with countermeasures against Trump's 'outrageous' threat to hike tariffs on imports from the European Union. The EU had been negotiating intensively with Washington for more than three weeks and had made concessions, said Lange. 'It is brazen and disrespectful to increase the tariffs on European goods announced on April 2 from 20% to 30%,' Lange told Reuters. 'This is a slap in the face for the negotiations. This is no way to deal with a key trading partner.' While Trump indicated earlier this week that his new rates, also levelled against big economies including Japan, South Korea and Brazil, will not apply until 1 August, his latest tactic will create much distrust. Europe should make it clear that these 'unfair trade practices' were unacceptable, Lange said. 'We have postponed the first stage of our countermeasures for the time being, but I am firmly convinced that they must now be implemented immediately,' he said. 'The first list of countermeasures must be activated on Monday as planned, and the second list should also follow quickly.' Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, downplayed the impact of the threatened 50% tariff. Trump and Lula have indicated a willingness to negotiate, though Lula also said: 'Trump could've called, but instead posted the tariff news on his website – a complete lack of respect which is typical of his behavior towards everyone.' Even if Trump had agreed to the proposal put on his table on Wednesday, further negotiations would have been needed in any case to create a legal text that can be formally registered by the US government, a process that is itself laden with risk. The UK took seven weeks to get its agreement registered with a promise included to reduce tariffs on car exports from 27.5% to 10%, but the agreed zero tariff for the British steel industry was omitted. Related: Macron calls on EU to 'defend European interests resolutely' from Trump tariffs Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former Congressional Budget Office director and president of the center-right American Action Forum, said the letters were evidence that serious trade talks had not been taking place over the past three months. He stressed that nations were instead talking among themselves about how to minimize their own exposure to the US economy and Trump. 'They're spending time talking to each other about what the future is going to look like, and we're left out,' Holtz-Eakin said. He added that Trump was using the letters to demand attention, but, 'in the end, these are letters to other countries about taxes he's going to levy on his citizens'. The new tariff ends a turbulent week for the EU with Trump announcing an extension for talks until 1 August on Monday, then on Tuesday announcing the EU would 'probably' receive a letter setting its new US tariff rate within 48 hours, claiming the bloc had shifted from being 'very tough' to 'very nice'. But diplomats viewed it as a mixed message as Trump stressed that he was still talking to negotiators from the bloc, but that he was displeased with European policies toward US tech firms. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Trump's 10% tariff on most UK goods ‘here to stay', says Lord Mandelson
The 10% tariffs on most UK goods imported into the US are likely 'here to stay', according to Lord Mandelson. The British ambassador to the US said the 'universal 10% tariff' was unlikely to change but that there was 'scope' for negotiations in different sectors and industries, such as technology. Speaking to the Sunday Times, he added that the US president, Donald Trump, should expect a 'warm reception' when he comes to the UK for a second state visit. 'He should expect a warm reception because he really does love Britain. He hugely admires it,' Mandelson said. 'He trusts Keir Starmer. It's not a question of expressing our gratitude. My lodestar here is to demonstrate respect, not sycophancy. I don't think the administration has any problem with that.' The comments came amid confusion over whether British steel imports will continue to face tariffs of 25% or even double to 50%. While a 10% tariff remains in place for most imports, the trade deal between the two nations reduced levies on car and aerospace imports. However, the prime minister and Trump suggested further negotiations were needed to reduce steel tariffs. On Saturday Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that goods imported from the EU and Mexico will face a 30% US tariff rate starting on 1 August. It came as a shock to European capitals, as the European Commission and the US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, had spent months hammering out a deal they believed was acceptable to both sides. The agreement in principle, which was put on Trump's desk on Wednesday, involved a 10% tariff, five times the pre-Trump tariff, which the bloc had already described as 'pain'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion EU trade ministers will meet on Monday for a pre-arranged summit and will be under pressure from some countries to show a tough reaction by implementing €21bn (£18bn) in retaliatory measures, which they had paused until midnight the same day. Meanwhile, Trump's unprecedented second state visit to Britain is likely to take place in September, according to media reports, at a time when parliament is not sitting. This would avoid the scenario of MPs boycotting or protesting a Trump address in the Commons.
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump WON'T get honour of addressing Parliament during State Visit, Lord Mandelson suggests as he heaps praise on 'phenomenal' president
Donald Trump will not address both Houses of Parliament on his looming State Visit, Lord Mandelson has suggested. The UK ambassador to the US appeared to confirm speculation that the president's trip will happen in September when Westminster is not sitting. That would reduce the potential for protests, but also deprive Mr Trump of an honour that was granted to Emmanuel Macron last week. Keir Starmer dramatically extended the official invitation from the King as he wooed Mr Trump at the White House in February. It will be the first time a US President has been granted the honour of a second state visit. Mr Trump's first was in 2019. However, there has been a backlash from some left-wing MPs who launched a campaign to block him from addressing Parliament. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Lord Mandelson lavished praise on Mr Trump. The peer said Mr Trump was a 'phenomenon' who 'dominated' Washington and would be 'one of the most consequential presidents in American history'. Lord Mandelson said of the State Visit: 'He should expect a warm reception because he really does love Britain. He hugely admires it. 'He trusts Keir Starmer. It's not a question of expressing our gratitude. My lodestar here is to demonstrate respect, not sycophancy. I don't think the administration has any problem with that.' Reminded that Labour left-wingers have started a petition against Mr Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament, the peer said: 'Well there's a surprise... But I had assumed that at the time of the visit Parliament won't be sitting.' The Commons is due to sit at the beginning of September, but then break again from the 16th while party conferences are held. Mr Trump is expected to visit Scotland before then to tour golf courses, with rumours he will meet up with Sir Keir. Lord Mandelson said Mr Trump is a 'more nuanced figure than people appreciate'. 'Look, he's not only a unique politician - he's also going to be one of the most consequential presidents in American history,' the ambassador said. 'He has this sense of history, this grasp of power which I think perhaps recent inhabitants of the White House haven't quite seen. He is not a man for endless seminars and thinking. 'He's not a victim of analysis paralysis. He has a very quick, easy way of grasping the core points about an issue. And let's be honest: more often than not, there's a kernel of truth in everything he says.' Lord Mandelson joked that the MAGA crowd in Washington 'regard me as a slightly exotic target of their fascination'. He said a turning point in his job was when Mr Trump described him as 'handsome' during Sir Keir's visit to the White House. 'I've never been in a town or a political system that is so dominated by one individual,' he said. 'Usually, you're entering an ecosystem rather than the world of one personality. But he is a phenomenon. A unique politician.' Lord Mandelson suggested he does not believe Nigel Farage will become PM as he recounted a recent conversation with US vice president JD Vance. 'I explained to the vice-president that, yes, highly effective populists and political actors like Farage can take advantage,' the New Labour architect said. 'At the end of the day, at the election people will be choosing their future government - not having a fling, expressing a protest or demonstrating their impatience. 'And in that sense, I said, perhaps Nigel is peaking too soon.' Lord Mandelson compared the political situations in the UK and US as he tried to explain why the Labour government has been struggling to make headway. He said: 'The mandates that both President Trump and Keir Starmer won at their elections last year came from the same sense of anger that many voters have. 'That they've been overlooked: the system was not delivering for them, that they were being taken for granted. 'But what's different about Britain is that we seem to have been travelling through a long, dark tunnel for ten years, with no signs of light or hope. 'It has seemed one thing after another. And I feel people are emerging from that tunnel, almost blinking into the daylight.'
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Lord Mandelson says Nigel Farage is 'peaking too soon' to become PM despite admitting that Keir Starmer's election landslide was down to 'anger'
Lord Mandelson has predicted that Nigel Farage is 'peaking too soon' to become PM despite acknowledging that Labour majority was down to a 'sense of anger'. The former Cabinet minister - now UK ambassador to the US - said Mr Farage is a 'highly effective populist' as polls show Reform with a significant lead. But he insisted that by the time of the election people will be choosing a government rather than 'having a fling'. The comments came in an interview with the Sunday Times - where Lord Mandelson also lavished praise on Donald Trump. The peer said Mr Trump was a 'phenomenon' who 'dominated' Washington and would be 'one of the most consequential presidents in American history'. He also argued that the Republican would get a 'warm welcome' from Brits on his state visit in September - and appeared to confirm for the first time that the trip will happen while Parliament is in recess. That would reduce the potential for protests as Mr Trump will not be able to give an address to both Houses - an honour that was granted to Emmanuel Macron last week. Lord Mandelson recounted a recent conversation he had with US vice president JD Vance. 'I explained to the vice-president that, yes, highly effective populists and political actors like Farage can take advantage,' the New Labour architect said. 'At the end of the day, at the election people will be choosing their future government - not having a fling, expressing a protest or demonstrating their impatience. 'And in that sense, I said, perhaps Nigel is peaking too soon.' Lord Mandelson compared the political situations in the UK and US as he tried to explain why the Labour government has been struggling to make headway. He said: 'The mandates that both President Trump and Keir Starmer won at their elections last year came from the same sense of anger that many voters have. 'That they've been overlooked: the system was not delivering for them, that they were being taken for granted. 'But what's different about Britain is that we seem to have been travelling through a long, dark tunnel for ten years, with no signs of light or hope. 'It has seemed one thing after another. And I feel people are emerging from that tunnel, almost blinking into the daylight.' Lord Mandelson said of the State Visit: 'He should expect a warm reception because he really does love Britain. He hugely admires it. 'He trusts Keir Starmer. It's not a question of expressing our gratitude. My lodestar here is to demonstrate respect, not sycophancy. I don't think the administration has any problem with that.' Reminded that Labour left-wingers have started a petition against Mr Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament, the peer said: 'Well there's a surprise... But I had assumed that at the time of the visit parliament won't be sitting.' Lord Mandelson said Mr Trump is a 'more nuanced figure than people appreciate'. 'Look, he's not only a unique politician - he's also going to be one of the most consequential presidents in American history,' the ambassador said. 'He has this sense of history, this grasp of power which I think perhaps recent inhabitants of the White House haven't quite seen. He is not a man for endless seminars and thinking. 'He's not a victim of analysis paralysis. He has a very quick, easy way of grasping the core points about an issue. And let's be honest: more often than not, there's a kernel of truth in everything he says.' Lord Mandelson joked that the MAGA crowd in Washington 'regard me as a slightly exotic target of their fascination'. He said a turning point in his job was when Mr Trump described him as 'handsome' during Sir Keir's visit to the White House. 'I've never been in a town or a political system that is so dominated by one individual,' he said.
