Prime minister to focus on car industry, which has been hit by 25% tariffs on exports to US, but manufacturers say ‘greater action almost certainly needed’Good morning. As prime minister, there is nothing more important than being able to show the nation, when a crisis hits, that you are responding pro-actively, that you have a plan to cope, and that you are not just passive and helpless. Today is unusual because Keir Starmer is responding to a crisis caused by someone who is purportedly an ally, but in other respects the crisis response is familiar; “government will protect you”, the PM will say.Starmer will be giving a speech early this afternoon and here is Pippa Crerar’s overnight preview story about what he is going to say.Global trade is being transformed so we must go further and faster in reshaping our economy and our country through our Plan for Change …Now more than ever UK businesses and working people need a government that steps up, not stands aside. That means action, not words. So today I am announcing bold changes to the way we support our car industry.We await full details of the regulatory amendments but, given the potentially severe headwinds facing manufacturers following the introduction of US tariffs, greater action will almost certainly be needed to safeguard our industry’s competitiveness. UK-US negotiations must continue at pace, while the long-awaited industrial and trade strategies should prioritise automotive and be delivered at speed.There are lots and lots of words in the announcement, but it doesn’t really address the major issues. The electric vehicle targets up to 2030 remain in place. The fines have been changed, but it’s still £12,000 pound fine for every petrol and diesel car up to 2030 that’s sold above the zero emission targets. That’s billions of pounds to manufacturers, and manufacturers face a choice with, adding the pressure on of tariffs, of either paying significant fines or rationing petrol and diesel cars. Nothing has really changed here. This is real tinkering. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/apr/07/keir-starmer-speech-trump-us-tariff-turmoil-car-industry-uk-politics-latest-updates-news
Author : Andrew Sparrow
Publish date : 2025-04-07 08:50:00
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Starmer to give speech on tariff turmoil but car industry says actions will have limited impact – UK politics live
