With only 10% tariff the UK has got off lightly, but not as lightly as Russia. Starmer concerned over what Trump might want for the favour.
With the EU and many other countries having 20% tariffs imposed on materials and goods entering the USA, the 10% levy on UK goods looks like a massive favour. Starmer is very pleased that his display of unabashed sycophancy to Trump has paid dividends.
There is a nagging concern in the back of his mind that he may have accidentally agreed to something, or not ruled something out, in his conversations with Trump. He does recall Trump taking a particular interest in his wife.
There has been interest in the lack of tariffs imposed on Russia, but with Trump having a high regard for Putin it is a great surprise.
The export giants Norfolk Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands were singled out for tariffs of 10, 10 and 29% respectively. These remote Australian islands are global players in the export world. The Norfolk Islands exports leather shoes and up to $456 of refined petroleum. It is probably the staggering $175k of motor vehicles.parts to the USA that attracted Trump’s attention.
There is confusion over the imposition of 10% tarriff on the uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands. There are no exports from there with there being no people there. We did ask for a reaction from the Islands, but what with there being nobody on the island there has not been a reply so far. The only reaction was from a passing penguin. It blinked.