Salisbury MP warns tariffs could affect businesses and economy
President Trump has said 10% tariffs will be imposed on UK exports from February, as he continues to try and acquire Greenland
Salisbury's MP is warning that businesses in Wiltshire could be impacted by new US tariffs.
As the UK continues to oppose President Trump's desires to acquire Greenland, the US President has announced a 10% tariff on UK exports from 1st February, with this set to rise later in the year.
Conservative John Glen said it could make life harder for local businesses exporting to the States.
"Tariffs are, another cost that make our goods, you know, more expensive when they get exported and that is really difficult because it means that we're likely to sell fewer of them and that means that it's bad for the economy," he said.
Mr Glen said he hopes the matter of tariffs can be resolved: "President Trump is famously a great deal maker and we need to come to an understanding to avoid the terrible effects that these tariffs, if imposed, could bring."
PM right to stand firm on Greenland future
Mr Glen backed the Prime Minister's stance over the future of Greenland, which is owned by Denmark.
And with President Trump claiming Greenland will be a benefit to America's national security, Mr Glen said it is important to consider how we defend our allies.
"What President Trump has said about that need to secure Greenland for essentially the Western world, we do need to look seriously at what that means when there are other forces in the world, Russia in particular, who would love to have more influence and obviously it has vital resources and its proximity in terms of defending Northern Europe and our allies," he said.
Mr Glen added that Sir Kier Starmer has a big challenge on his hands in dealing with the US President, who he says has proven to be "quite unpredictable".
"I think the Prime Minister on this occasion has done the right thing. It's obviously very challenging to work out how to influence a president who, acts in ways we don't expect sometimes."