Donald Trump’s admiration for “renegade” Brexit Britain may mean it is spared tariffs under his incoming presidency, according to a US politician.
Phil Murphy, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, said he thinks the US president-elect will look favourably on the UK choosing to leave the “bureaucratic blob” of the European Union.
Republican Mr Trump, who is set to return to the White House after sweeping to victory in last week’s US election last week, has pledged to impose tariffs on foreign imports.
Mr Murphy told Sky News Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “I have a gut feeling that he looks at the UK’s move out of the EU which, by the way, I have to say was a huge mistake from my perspective.
“But from his perspective, I think it’s, ‘you know what? These guys had the courage to pull out of this big bureaucratic blob. And I, Donald Trump, have some sympathy with the renegade who has courage’.
“I think there’s some of that. I think that’s a card that can be played, and we’ll see.”
He added that his “gut” is telling him Mr Trump would not pursue tariffs “against allies like the UK”.
Mr Murphy said: “My gut tells me no, but if I’m China, I’m fastening my seat belt right now.”
Treasury minister Darren Jones said Whitehall officials will be “considering lots of different scenarios” amid fears about the impact of tariffs on the UK economy.
Mr Trump has pledged tariffs of up to 20% on goods imported into the US from around the world and 60% on those coming from China.
Mr Jones said: “Officials will be considering lots of different scenarios but the position of the Government is that we support free trade and we support the trading relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
“It’s a very strong, very fruitful relationship, both for us but also for the American economy and of course we want to protect that and strengthen it in the years ahead.”
He added: “And I think President-elect Trump has said that. He recognises the important relationship the US has with the UK, and that’s the basis on which we will be co-operating in future years.”
Mr Trump, who is friends with Brexit architect Nigel Farage, is expected to move swiftly on trade policy after he is sworn into the White House in January.
The Labour Government is scrambling to build bridges with the president-elect after past criticism of Mr Trump by senior figures including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
A row also erupted last month over 100 Labour activists travelling to battleground states to campaign for the Democrats.
It comes after Mr Trump won Arizona, the seventh and final swing state, on Saturday night after four days of counting.
