Rachel Reeves triggers fresh Brexit row by declaring EU more important than America to economy
RACHEL Reeves triggered a fresh Brexit row yesterday by declaring the EU more important than America to the economy.
The Chancellor made the remarks hours before meeting her US counterpart to try to secure a much-coveted trade deal.
No sign of an agreement to eliminate tariffs emerged last night following her sitdown in Washington with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Although it was always unlikely to happen immediately.
Ahead of her meeting, Ms Reeves said she was “confident” of striking a deal to scrap the 10 per cent blanket import duty on UK products and 25 per cent on cars, steel and aluminium.
Ms Reeves told the BBC: “Our trading relationship with Europe is arguably even more important, because they’re our nearest neighbours.”
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Downing Street refused to endorse her remarks and said picking to prioritise either Europe or America was a “false choice”.
The Tories accused the Labour Cabinet Minister of jeopardising the UK’s chances of landing a deal with her remarks.
And her Tory shadow Mel Stride said downplaying the US was wrong.
He added: “Labour is more interested in reversing Brexit freedoms than delivering for Britain.”
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