Donald Trump is threatening to launch a damaging new trade war with the United States' historically closest ally, the United Kingdom.

In recent weeks Trump and his allies have issued a series of trade threats to the UK on everything from the future of the Iran nuclear deal to Huawei, to taxes on tech firms.

The threats come as Britain prepares to leave the EU on January 31.

The UK plans to seek a host of new trade deals as Trump appears to take advantage of the country's vulnerable new position on the world stage.

Donald Trump is threatening to launch a damaging new trade war with the United Kingdom as the country prepares to leave the EU.

In recent weeks the president and his allies have issued a series of threats to the UK on everything telecoms, to vehicle tariffs to security co-operation.

It comes as the United Kingdom parliament on Wednesday voted to ratify Boris Johnson's Brexit agreement with the EU on Wednesday, paving the way for Britain's exit on January 31.

Now as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to seek new trade deals outside of the EU, Trump's administration is poised to take advantage of the UK's vulnerable new position on the world stage.

Trump threatens the UK on tax

The levy is designed to target international companies which the UK government believe use their position to avoid tax in the UK.
Johnson's spokesman told a press briefing this week that these companies, most of which are based in the US, are "undermining public trust and confidence in our economic system."

However, Trump's Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin responded in Davos this week to what the UK describes as a "proportionate" tax, by threatening a new trade war with the UK over the issue.

"If people want to arbitrarily put taxes on our digital companies, we will consider arbitrarily putting taxes on car companies," Mnuchin said.

The automotive industry is a key part of the UK economy with almost a fifth of overseas sales of UK vehicles going to the US.

Johnson's spokesman responded to the threats this week by saying said that such a trade war would "harm businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic."

The UK's International Trade Secretary Liz Truss was also bullish on the issue on Thursday, saying that the UK's policy was "not a matter for the US. It's not a matter for the EU. And it's not a matter for anybody else."

Trump threatens the UK on security

Trump has warned the UK that the intelligence-sharing arrangement between the two allies will be at risk if the deal goes ahead, with US officials warning last week that "Donald Trump is watching closely."

However, Boris Johnson is reportedly preparing to allow the Huawei deal to go ahead despite the threats, amid a widespread belief in Europe that Trump's warnings are a "bluff".

Asked last week whether he would allow the Huawei deal to go ahead, Johnson told the BBC that "the British public deserves access to the best possible technology."

He added: "If people oppose one brand or another they have to tell us what's the alternative?"

EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan last week told an event in London that the President's threat was simply not credible.

"I don't think that will happen at the end of the day," he said.

"You can call their bluff on that one."

Johnson last week joined with other European leaders in signing a letter endorsing the current deal, which they see as the best chance of bringing Iran back into the fold and preventing a potentially devastating conflict with the US.

However, threats by Trump to impose 25% tariffs on European vehicles appear to have played a part in forcing those same countries to instigate the disputes mechanism last week , which could ultimately cause the entire deal to fall apart.

Now as Britain prepares to enter new trade negotiations with the US, the threat of more punitive trade retaliation by Trump looms over the UK.

The UK threatens Trump on defence

Speaking to the Sunday Times, the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned that Trump's isolationist foreign policy meant the UK was considering drawing back from its longstanding defence alliance with the US.

"Over the last year we've had the US pullout from Syria, the statement by Donald Trump on Iraq where he said NATO should take over and do more in the Middle East," Wallace said.

"The assumptions of 2010 that we were always going to be part of a US coalition is really just not where we are going to be."

Johnson's administration has repeatedly criticised Trump's stance towards Iran, with Johnson warning that the president's threats to target Iranian cultural sites could be a war crime.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-trade-war-uk-brexit-huawei-iran-boris-johnson-2020-1%3famp

His headache

hurricane Trump

Lure UK to leave EU by promising juicy deals if they leave and then turn around and force them to take bad deals because they are no longer in a strong group. Purely divide and rules style.

British people go hear am.
They will know who Trump is today.

As much as I hate to admit it, China is ruling the world on 5G technology. They have the highest number of 5G patents in the world and their technology is cheap. Furthermore, China is already working on 6G.

It will take the U.S. 5years to get to where China is on deployment alone.

For those who don't understand the post. Trump is threatening trade war with the UK if they agree to use China's 5G technology.

Trade war here and there.

Interestingly, I have made so much progress during this Trump era.

My immigration consultancy service is thriving due to the inconsistency and panick driven immigration policy from Trump's team, I wish he is there forever but I just don't like him, someone close to me was denied Visa

Trump damn

Blindersoff:
Donald Trump is threatening to launch a damaging new trade war with the United States' historically closest ally, the United Kingdom.

In recent weeks Trump and his allies have issued a series of trade threats to the UK on everything from the future of the Iran nuclear deal to Huawei, to taxes on tech firms.
The threats come as Britain prepares to leave the EU on January 31.
The UK plans to seek a host of new trade deals as Trump appears to take advantage of the country's vulnerable new position on the world stage.

trump is something else

Inside life.
So This Useless Britain created an error called Nigeria out of their endless greed.
So now they too want to leave EU because they don't belief in "one EU"

NA THUNDER GO FIRE THEM

nonsense write-up. imagination of the writer

Gbam! Make una continue... another trade war loading and this time the who is who gan gan.
Ordinary coronavirus the price of oil is shaking. Una won come start trade war
Ok we're observing
BREXIT IS CERTAIN sha

So he still have the guts to threaten UK their mother country.
He should remember that power doesn't last forever.
Britain was once like U S far back 18th to 20th century.

Why is trump like this. He was one of the people who encouraged UK to leave o.

Hope Brexiteers are happy now

This is what happens when you have a mad man as a president

What's the outcome of the impeachment process na? Can't see it on front page.

Anything that will bring Britain down is allowed, Trump ride on!

Britain destroyed Nigeria and many other African nations and made them the hell on earth they are today, so if this news would mean UK will become broke like Greece, then I am solidly in support of Trump and we are ready to Amotekun UK

This Trump will not just sit down one place. He'll be jumping from one matter to another. Now he's threatening their colonial master? Issokay!

Ass lickers of both countries won't like this

Trump will not last o...

slivertongue:
hurricane Trump

best caption. The man too like fight and quarrel

Trump is making the US appear more as a tyrant than she already appears. Threatening everyone 'threatnable' and making it look as if the US is exclusively self sufficient in all ramifications.
I just wish Africa has sensible leaders who wouldn't have made us appear weak and exploitable by the big powers. If all countries were to harness their potentials to the full, the chance of one country trumping others would have reduced.