Trump tariff wars: British firms warned to brace for ‘very big hit’ from wave of US import levies [Video]

British firms have been warned to prepare for a “very big hit” from Donald Trump’s tariff wars.

Sir Keir Starmer said talks with the US on a trade deal that would help the UK avoid the US import levies were “well advanced”.

He denied that the Government had tried to “suck up” to Trump to get a trade deal to avoid the tariffs but stressed it would continue negotiating to try to reach an agreement.

This stance, rather than retaliatory tariffs as planned by the European Union, Canada and other countries, was backed by Lord Darroch, a former UK ambassador to Washington during Trump’s first term.

“We have to keep negotiating and there is still, it seems from what the Government is saying, a glimmer of hope that a deal can be done,” he said.

“But meanwhile we have to take the hit on the tariffs that will be announced tomorrow.

“We have 25 …