KEMI Badenoch says a trade deal with Donald Trump must be urgently struck — or Britain could be economically “kneecapped”.
The new Tory leader wants the PM to push for a pact to drive up investment and living standards.
She says there is a landmark deal on the shelf drawn up with the previous Trump White House administration in 2020 “ready to be dusted off”.
Ms Badenoch said: “If President Trump does pursue a new protectionist tariff regime, it would be terrible news for the UK. Only a Free Trade Agreement will protect us.
“It shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for Labour. The return of President Trump is that golden opportunity.”
In the Sunday Telegraph, she warned: “If trade barriers go up without mitigations in place, Britain will be economically, politically and diplomatically kneecapped.”
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British firms working in car manufacturing, chemicals and financial services would all likely benefit from a deal.
The President-elect is considering imposing tariffs of between ten to 20 per cent or even as high as 60 per cent on goods from China, which would likely spark a trade war.
Treasury minister Darren Jones appeared to stand back when pressed yesterday on whether he would like a deal.
He told LBC Radio: “It depends what it is that is on offer, if there is an offer. We’ll have to cross those bridges when we come to it.”