FridayOL

Conservatives are raising concerns that Labour leader Keir Starmer’s planned discussions with the European Union could jeopardise the prospect of a lucrative free trade agreement with the United States. The warning comes as Starmer prepares to meet with EU leaders later this month, a move critics are branding a “surrender summit.”

The potential damage to UK-US trade negotiations stems from fears that a softening of the UK’s stance on post-Brexit arrangements with the EU will make Washington wary of pursuing a deal. Negotiations with the US, long touted as a key benefit of Brexit, have stalled, and the Conservatives argue that any perceived backtracking on the current agreement could effectively kill off those ambitions.

“A return to alignment with EU rules would severely undermine our ability to strike a truly independent trade deal with the US,” a senior Conservative source told The Telegraph. “The Americans are watching very closely. They want to see that we are serious about taking advantage of our new-found freedoms.”

The proposed summit has already drawn criticism from within Starmer’s own party, with some MPs warning against making concessions to Brussels. However, Starmer insists the talks are about finding ways to ease trade friction and improve cooperation on issues like security and climate change, not about rejoining the EU or accepting its rules wholesale.

“We want a better relationship with the EU, one that works for Britain,” Starmer stated recently. “That means being realistic about the challenges and opportunities, and being prepared to engage constructively.”

However, the Conservatives remain unconvinced. They point to the complexities of negotiating a trade deal with the US, particularly given ongoing tensions over issues such as agricultural standards and tariffs. A perceived shift towards the EU could be seen as a sign of weakness, making the US less inclined to offer favourable terms.

The US-UK trade deal was initially championed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a cornerstone of the post-Brexit economic strategy. While preliminary discussions took place during the Trump administration, progress has been slow under the Biden administration, with a focus on other trade priorities.

The timing of Starmer’s EU talks is particularly sensitive, as it coincides with increasing pressure from various sectors of the UK economy to improve trade relations with Europe. Businesses have struggled with new customs checks and regulatory hurdles since Brexit, and many are calling for a more pragmatic approach to dealing with the EU.

Ultimately, the success of Starmer’s EU talks and the future of UK-US trade negotiations will depend on striking a delicate balance. He must navigate the complexities of both relationships while demonstrating to Washington that the UK remains a reliable and independent trading partner. Failure to do so could leave the UK with a diminished role on the global stage and a less prosperous economic future.