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Trump's trade wars should prompt U-turn in Labour economic policy, say communists
President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, January 30, 2025, in Washington

TRUMP’S trade wars and vanishing growth prospects demand a U-turn in economic policy from Labour, the Communist Party said today.

The US president’s announcement of aggressive tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China has sparked fears international trade will be disrupted and prices driven up.

Economic forecasters are also expected to downgrade British growth prospects for 2025 again tomorrow.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper admitted today rising tariffs could have “a really damaging impact on global growth and trade,” but she rejected advice from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey to rejoin the EU customs union in response.

Conservative shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said Labour should prioritise sucking up to Mr Trump, saying Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should “be rediverting his plane” from a planned Brussels summit tomorrow to Washington to plead for Britain’s interests.

But Communist Party leader Robert Griffiths said: “We should neither grovel to Trump alongside the Tories, Reform UK and Lord Mandelson, nor side with the EU and escalate the conflict as proposed by Labour and Lib Dem ‘rejoiners.’

“Trump’s trade war threatens any plan for growth in Britain that relies on US and EU inward investment and the financial markets.

“We should commandeer Britain’s enormous corporate and private wealth to invest in green technology, research & development, public-sector housing and well-paid workers’ skills; renationalise the energy sector; and control retail prices,” Mr Griffiths demanded.

“In particular, Britain needs to expand its trade in electrical, mechanical and technical products with the world’s emerging economies — a policy first recommended by Chinese ministers to a Communist Party of Britain delegation almost 20 years ago.”

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