Prime minister says the UK government is ‘prepared’ and would not agree economic deal with US if he does not think it is good for UKJonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, said this morning that he hopes the economic deal with the US that the government is negotiating will lead not just to a reduction in tariffs on the UK, but to their removal.British and US negotiators are reportedly very close to finalising a deal, but it has yet to be signed off by President Trump.No, I want those tariffs removed. I want them removed in terms of the 10% that’s been announced. I want them removed on steel and aluminium. I don’t think there is an argument, a strong argument, for those being in place …I want not only to remove what has been announced so far, but to strengthen that relationship. I want more UK businesses with stronger market access to all parts of the US. That’s the prize on offer.What I am committed to – and what I genuinely believe we can deliver – is a position where not only are we not in a position where we’ve got to think about job losses or about the loss of exports, but we can strengthen that relationship. That is what we’re committed to doing.We in the UK will take any action we need to give ourselves the tools that we need to respond to announcements of this kind …Whilst we have a chance of making the relationship between the UK and the US even stronger than it is, the message I get very strongly from businesses [is] ‘remain at the table, don’t overreact’. Continue reading...