Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib has welcomed President Trump's tariffs on imports, describing them as a "trade advantage" for the UK.
Speaking on GB News, Habib called the tariffs "a terrific opportunity for the United Kingdom".
He explained that international trade is about relative competitiveness, and with Trump imposing higher tariffs on the EU than on Britain, the UK has effectively been "gifted a trade deal with the US".
Habib said he "woke up with a smile" when the tariff differences were announced.
"We are now a better trading proposition for the United States than the EU," Habib claimed.
He warned that if the EU retaliates, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has threatened, relations between Brussels and Washington could "go from bad to worse".
The UK would be the "big beneficiary" of this situation, Habib suggested, even without a formal trade deal with America.
He framed the situation as Britain "taking advantage of having left the EU's Customs Union".
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Habib predicted that European businesses would eventually relocate to the United Kingdom to capitalise on the improved US trading relationship.
"It will take time, because businesses take time to reposition," he acknowledged.
However, he insisted that companies would inevitably move operations to Britain to "take advantage of a better trading relationship with the United States".
This business migration would occur naturally as companies adjusted to the new tariff landscape, according to Habib.
He described the situation as having "worked incredibly well" for the UK.
Habib cautioned Starmer against retaliating with tariffs of his own: "What Starmer mustn't do is retaliate with tariffs," he warned.
If Britain were to impose counter-tariffs, Habib said the UK would "end up in the same sinkhole down which von der Leyen wishes to take the European Union".
Habib concluded that the "next natural step" for Britain under this trade advantage would be to mirror American policies.
This would include "ditching Net Zero, ditching DEI, deregulating, cutting taxes," he said.
These policy shifts would "become natural for the UK as we pivot away from the European Union," according to Habib.
He linked these potential changes to what he called "the optimism that goes with the Trump presidency".
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Speaking on GB News, Habib called the tariffs "a terrific opportunity for the United Kingdom".
He explained that international trade is about relative competitiveness, and with Trump imposing higher tariffs on the EU than on Britain, the UK has effectively been "gifted a trade deal with the US".
Habib said he "woke up with a smile" when the tariff differences were announced.
"We are now a better trading proposition for the United States than the EU," Habib claimed.
He warned that if the EU retaliates, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has threatened, relations between Brussels and Washington could "go from bad to worse".
The UK would be the "big beneficiary" of this situation, Habib suggested, even without a formal trade deal with America.
He framed the situation as Britain "taking advantage of having left the EU's Customs Union".
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Habib predicted that European businesses would eventually relocate to the United Kingdom to capitalise on the improved US trading relationship.
"It will take time, because businesses take time to reposition," he acknowledged.
However, he insisted that companies would inevitably move operations to Britain to "take advantage of a better trading relationship with the United States".
This business migration would occur naturally as companies adjusted to the new tariff landscape, according to Habib.
He described the situation as having "worked incredibly well" for the UK.
Habib cautioned Starmer against retaliating with tariffs of his own: "What Starmer mustn't do is retaliate with tariffs," he warned.
If Britain were to impose counter-tariffs, Habib said the UK would "end up in the same sinkhole down which von der Leyen wishes to take the European Union".
Habib concluded that the "next natural step" for Britain under this trade advantage would be to mirror American policies.
This would include "ditching Net Zero, ditching DEI, deregulating, cutting taxes," he said.
These policy shifts would "become natural for the UK as we pivot away from the European Union," according to Habib.
He linked these potential changes to what he called "the optimism that goes with the Trump presidency".
Find Out More...