UK can ‘cuddle’ EU and US at the same time amid Trump tariff threats, minister says

UK can 'cuddle' EU and US at the same time amid Trump tariff threats, minister says

Transcript

00:00If push comes to shove, and the Commission turns around and says,

00:06you want a reset, you want liberalisation, you want less friction, etc.,

00:12the price that you have to pay for that is that you have to declare for the EU in this issue,

00:22against the United States, not enjoy exemptions from US-imposed tariffs on Europe,

00:34where does the government jump?

00:37Well, that hasn't arisen, I can say for certain.

00:41No, no, but I'm saying...

00:43And I, in terms of, you know, there may well be various hypotheticals across the course of the Parliament

00:49in terms of international events that, sitting here, none of us can foresee as of today,

00:54but the government's firm position is that we do not choose between allies,

00:59we share deep values with both the European Union and indeed the United States,

01:04and our firm policy is that we will continue to deepen relationships with both.

01:09So we're happy to cuddle Solomon like the baby in two?

01:15I think it's perfectly possible to cuddle more than one person at the same time.

01:20I'm sure Mrs Thomas-Simmons will be delighted to hear that,

01:24and I challenge any other Select Committee to have both Palmerston and Solomon referenced in the same question.