UK Lists US Goods for Potential Retaliatory Tariffs Amid Talks
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Wednesday published a 400-page list of U.S. goods it could include in any possible retaliatory tariff response to President Donald Trump's levies on British imports, even as it pressed ahead with talks to reach an economic deal with Washington.
The "indicative long list" of products included everything from binoculars and bourbon whiskey to automotive parts and cheese. The list also includes petrol, diesel and electric passenger vehicles and food products including meat and fish.
The government stressed that not all goods on the list would be subject to any future tariffs.
Britain says it has adopted a "cool-headed" approach to Trump's 10% tariffs, the lowest among the sweeping levies on dozens of other nations, rather than follow the European Union and other economies in immediately threatening to retaliate with its own measures.
The list of 8,000 product categories published by the government on which any future retaliatory tariffs could be imposed covered around 27% of British imports of U.S.-origin products. The list is now subject to a four-week consultation with businesses.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said his priority was to reach a deal with the U.S. but that the consultation was a formal step necessary so the government could keep all options on the table.
"(The) talks with the US will continue to reflect our mandate to deliver economic stability, as we press the case for a trading relationship that supports businesses on both sides of the Atlantic," Reynolds said in a statement.
He said the consultation, which will run until May 1, would be paused and any measures would be reversed were the two countries to agree a deal.
(Reporting by Catarina Demony, writing by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Kate Holton and Toby Chopra)
