November 12, 2024, 07:56 | Updated: November 12, 2024, 07:57

A former exports minister has told LBC that Britain can be more “nimble” than the EU and persuade the new US government of the benefits of a free trade deal.

Donald Trump is widely expected to introduce tariffs of between 10 and 20 percent on most goods imported into the United States, and as high as 60 percent on those from China.

Government ministers have so far refused to reveal what proposals are being drawn up in response to the threat of tariffs.

But Lord Offord of Garvel, a Scottish businessman who served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for exports between April 2023 and July 2024, said Britain’s Department for Business and Trade was well placed to reach a deal and urged Labor to do so. as soon as possible.

Lord Offord told LBC: “This has been pretty much pointed out by the new Trump administration, and we are at an advantage here, believe it or not.

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“That’s a benefit of Brexit that being able to deal with this situation as the UK, we can present ourselves to America much more quickly and with much more agility as an independent country.

“We have modeled this through eight MoUs, and with five more under negotiation, that puts us in the lead. »

MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) are trade agreements between the United Kingdom and individual states, such as Texas and Florida, although they are still subject to tariffs at the federal level.

Lord Offord said the trade relationship already in place with the US would be a useful tool in Britain’s pitch to the Trump team.

The businessman also highlighted the fact that 80% of the UK economy is based on services rather than goods.

“We have made the case to the United States that what we can give them does not in any way hinder or destroy their own domestic trade and employment opportunities,” he said.

“I’m in no way diminishing the scale of the tariffs and the impact that that will have, particularly on our manufactured goods, I’m just saying that the government’s job is to mitigate that if it has to happen.

“We probably have the best negotiating team in the world. The question is: are ministers wise enough to push for this? I don’t see why.

Lord Offord described Donald Trump as a “negotiator” and said it was time to sit down at the table with a leading businessman like the president-elect.

Speaking on a trade deal, Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones said with Lewis Goodall on Sunday: “Obviously it always depends on the detail of these things and we will have to get that right.

“It’s not that I’m saying I don’t want to enjoy it. I am saying that at this time we do not know the terms or the details, and President-elect Trump is not yet in office.”