PMQs: Davey calls for “Tesla tariffs” if Trump hits UK steel industry

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on the government to draw up plans for retaliatory “Tesla tariffs” on Elon Musk’s electric vehicle firm if Donald Trump carries out his threat to hit the UK steel industry with a 25% tariff on exports to America.

The Liberal Democrat Leader has said that plans for retaliatory tariffs on Tesla electric vehicles need to be drawn up now and used if Trump follows through with his threats. Musk, Tesla’s CEO and a senior adviser in the Trump administration, has previously called for the overthrow of the UK government.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

“The Prime Minister has so far sat back and allowed Donald Trump and his sidekick Elon Musk to ride roughshod over UK interests while the Conservatives and Nigel Farage cheer them on.

“The government needs to draw up plans for Tesla tariffs to hit Musk where it hurts, if Trump’s administration follows through with their threats to the UK steel industry.

“Sitting back and hoping Trump won’t hurt us just isn’t going to work. The only way we can tackle Trump and Musk is by negotiating from a position of strength and showing that the UK will not be bullied from across the pond.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The text of Ed Davey’s question:

Eighty years ago this week, the Allies began a pincer movement against German forces between the Roer and the Rhine.

British and Canadian forces attacked from the North, the Americans from the South.

British, Canadian and American soldiers – fighting shoulder to shoulder to defeat fascists.

Eighty years on, President Trump seems to have forgotten that.

His tariffs on steel and aluminium will hit Canada the hardest – while also hitting jobs and the cost of living here in the UK.

So in reminding President Trump who America’s true friends have been, will he prepare plans for tariffs in return – starting with tariffs on American electric cars?