Kemi Badenoch has claimed the UK is "feeling the brunt" of Donald Trump's new tariffs, arguing that the trade war is "really about China" with other nations caught in the crossfire.
The Leader of the Opposition made the comments on the Camilla Tominey Show this morning after major British manufacturers were left grappling with the consequences of Trump's protectionist measures.
Trump's tariffs on foreign imports have begun to take effect, with a 25 per cent levy on all foreign cars imported into the US implemented on Thursday.
This was followed by a "baseline" 10 per cent tariff on most products imported into the United States, which took effect on Saturday morning.
Kemi Badenoch said that the tariffs were "really about China"
GB NEWS
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told GB News: "Well, let's look at what we did two years ago. All the car companies were telling me that this is not going to work unless the Government pays a lot of money, a lot of subsidies.
"People didn't want to buy electric cars. They're very heavy on the roads. It's one of the reasons why we're getting more potholes, for example.
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"So, we need to create policies that make sense. Can people afford this? Where are the components coming from?
"Not just relying on China, which is partly what President Trump is trying to do.
"This trade war is really about China. The rest of us are in the way and are feeling the brunt of it."
However, Badenoch also highlighted how a Brexit opportunity gives the UK a lifeline after the chaos.
She told GB News: "But another thing we can do is start working with other partners. We had the biggest post-Brexit trade deal, the CPTPP. Those 12 countries—Japan, Australia, Mexico, and Canada—they're all feeling the brunt as well.
"We should be working with them. Let's try to lower some of the other tariffs. Let's do more where we have influence, as we do with the EU, rather than just sitting back and looking for more things to give away to the US. That's not the right way to do it."
Camilla replied: "Also, though, aren't we going to be worried that we are now going to be flooded with even more Chinese goods? I mean, you speak to somebody like James Dyson, who says the Chinese don't have any respect for intellectual property.
"They're just going to knock off my vacuum cleaner or my air dryer or whatever. And that's just the way the Chinese operate."
Badenoch responded: "They don't have any respect for any laws. That's where we should be focusing on the people who don't play by the rules, rather than throwing all the rules away."
Kemi Badenoch discussed the tariffs with Camilla on GB News
GB NEWS
"Let's make sure that those who don't play by the rules are held accountable. That's where you use tariffs.
"That's what they're there for. WTO rules are about people who are dumping goods, over-subsidising, or engaging in unfair competition. That's what tariffs should be used for."
Jaguar Land Rover, one of Britain's biggest carmakers, announced on Saturday it will "pause" shipments to the US as it works to address the new trading terms.
"The USA is an important market for JLR's luxury brands," a spokesperson for the company said.
"As we work to address the new trading terms with our business partners, we are taking some short-term actions including a shipment pause in April, as we develop our mid- to longer-term plans."