Britain must respect Donald Trump’s “strong and clear mandate for change,” Lord Peter Mandelson has said, as concerns grow over how the UK will respond to the White House’s proposed global tariffs.
Speaking in Washington, Lord Mandelson, a former Labour minister and key figure in the party’s modernisation, emphasised that Sir Keir Starmer’s government can express its views to the Trump administration “privately and directly” while maintaining a constructive relationship.
Balancing diplomacy with US trade policies
The UK’s top diplomat acknowledged that Britain may not align with every detail of Mr Trump’s policy agenda, particularly in relation to trade. However, he stressed the importance of understanding the motivations behind the US president’s decisions.
“Well, we’ve got to take all these issues as they come, realise that the president has a very strong and clear mandate for change in the United States,” Lord Mandelson told the BBC.
“Now that doesn’t mean to say that we’re going to agree in Britain with every single detail of what he does, but we have to respect and understand what drives him, what his mandate is to do, and how his allies need to adjust sometimes.
“And I believe that, given the relationship that we have, we can always make our views known – best, by the way, directly and privately.”
Lord Mandelson insisted that Britain’s close ties with the United States allow for influence over policy decisions without jeopardising cooperation on shared interests. “We have a strong relationship that enables us to influence the president and his policies where necessary, and it certainly should not affect our ability to work well together, and that’s what I intend remains the case,” he said.
UK steel industry at risk
The comments come amid growing concern over Mr Trump’s plan to impose a 25% tariff on imported steel, as well as additional duties on aluminium. The UK government is awaiting further details of the policy but has been urged to take decisive action to protect the domestic steel sector.
Britain exported 166,433 tonnes of steel to the US in 2023, according to figures from UK Steel. Early data for 2024 suggests a similar level of exports, with 162,716 tonnes sent before December. However, the US is only Britain’s second-largest steel export market after the EU, accounting for just 5% of total UK steel exports last year.
Despite this, industry leaders warn that the impact could be significant. The steel sector is already under strain, with unions cautioning that further job losses may follow if tariffs are implemented.
Future of UK-US relations
Reports suggest that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is considering a visit to Washington in the coming weeks to discuss trade and other bilateral issues, though Downing Street has yet to confirm any travel plans.
So far in his second term, President Trump has imposed, but then delayed, tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. He has also placed 10% levies on goods from China. While he has hinted at a potential exemption for the UK, he has simultaneously criticised Britain’s trading relationship with the US as “out of line.”
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Lord Mandelson, who now plays a key role in strengthening UK-US relations, said his focus would be on building an investment partnership that benefits both nations.
“Each of us wants to grow our economies,” he said.
“I think that what we need to do is to build a technology and investment relationship between the US and the UK that’s fit for the 21st century. That’s where I want to focus.”
He further emphasised the importance of attracting private and foreign investment to boost Britain’s economic growth, noting that a significant portion of this capital would come from the United States.
As Britain navigates its relationship with President Trump’s administration, the government faces a delicate balancing act—preserving economic ties while advocating for UK interests in private diplomatic channels.
