USA is three times more important to the UK than the EU’s number one economy Germany as Starmer is slammed for prioritising EU
The USA is three times more important than the EU’s number one economy Germany in terms of trade, figures compiled by GB NEWS and Facts4EU have shown.
The Lone Star State has an economy of $2.7 trillion- slightly larger than Italy- and represents a huge opportunity for Anglo-American trade.
Keir Starmer meanwhile is making noises about ‘resetting relations with the EU’, drawing furious reaction from Richard Tice.
The Reform MP said: “This excellent suite of reports by Facts4EU.Org for CIBUK and GB News clearly shows what an excellent opportunity there is for the United Kingdom, if we grasp it.
“The facts are clear. The US is easily our most important trading partner, much more so than even the largest countries in the European Union.”
Brexit Britain’s exports to the USA have grown 1.6 times faster than our exports to the EU since 2016.
Mr Tice continued: “Whilst our exports to the EU have been holding up, we must set our sights globally and surely there is nowhere better to start than with the United States, now that Donald Trump has been re-elected in a landslide victory.
“It is very worrying that our new Government led by Sir Keir Starmer is once again letting us all down.
“With the House of Commons Library’s report stating that a trade deal with the US isn’t even on Labour’s agenda, this begs the question of whether this government is truly acting in our best interests, or if it is acting along ideological grounds.
The independent and authoritative House of Commons Library report published in September said: “The new government’s plans for FTA [Free trade agreements] negotiations did not mention the US.”
Mr Tice added: “The US economy is growing much faster than that of the EU and this is set to accelerate under the new administration.
“Reform UK’s position is clear. We would actively pursue a trade deal with President-Elect Trump’s USA. This has the potential to boost exports as well as providing a greater choice for UK consumers with good value products from the US.
“Labour’s ideological antipathy towards Donald Trump must not be allowed to stand in the way of the interests of the people of the United Kingdom.
“The US is also our most important defence partner, and we should enhance our intelligence capabilities together.”
This comes after new Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch called the return of President Trump a “golden opportunity” for the UK.
She wrote in the Telegraph last weekend: “The onus is now on the Labour Government to put aside their embarrassing student politics diplomacy, which has already shot Britain in the foot on Israel and the Chagos Islands, and go full steam ahead to secure a deal that will enrich the people and businesses of the UK.
“I worry Labour is not interested in anything except the EU. A US-UK FTA is one of the biggest Brexit prizes.
“We must not be held back by Labour’s barely concealed contempt for, and juvenile depictions of, President Trump.
“Picking up our ready-made deal and making a concerted effort to get it signed would finally prove that Starmer is willing to do as he’s said, and put country before party. Anything less would be yet another betrayal of the British people’s trust.”
Texas State Governor Greg Abbott said: “As our ninth largest trade partner, the United Kingdom plays a critical role in the Texas economic juggernaut.
“Strengthening the bond between Texas and the United Kingdom is crucial for our shared economies to prosper.
“Texas is the economic engine of America, where entrepreneurs from around the globe can cast a vision and know they can achieve it.
“Working with our British partners, we will chart a greater path towards success and opportunity and create an even more robust economic partnership.”
Latest government trade figures show America bought £186billion worth of goods and services in 2023 alone, three times as much as Germany – the EU’s largest economy – who came in second place on £63billion.
America’s largest physical import from Britain was medicinal and pharmaceutical products (£8.2 billion), followed by cars (£7.5 billion), mechanical power generators (£5.3 billion), scientific instruments (£2.5 billion) and aircraft (£2.3 billion).
These numbers were dwarfed by services imported to America from Britain.
‘Other Business Services’ accounted for £58.0 billion worth of trade, ‘Financial Services’ at £29.1 billion, ‘Insurance and Pension services’ at £11.5 billion and ‘Telecommunications, computer and information services’ at £8.8 billion.