Arnold S

"We'll trade with our great friends in the USA" - Boeing UK contracts 'jeopardised' over Bombardier row - BBC News

Eeyore

And let's not forget that we've been here before...

In 2002-2003, the Bush administration imposed tariffs on steel, which hit UK high-grade steel production. The UK pleaded with the US to drop the tariffs (special relationship, right? And we were their number one ally in the Iraq invasion) - the US ignored us.

Then the WTO ruled against the US, and the US ignored the WTO, so... the UK asked the EU to help.

The EU stepped up and, thanks to its collective size, threatened tariffs against key US goods with political impact (eg. oranges from Florida, a swing-state run by Bush's brother).

The US backed down immediately.

The lessons being, of course, that we can't rely on the US to be our special friend and the EU can very effectively fight for its members' interests when the US (and later China) decide to play bully on the trade playground (but don't expect the Mail or the Express or any of the leading lights of Leave to remind us of this).

And it's why the EU is now negotiating Brexit in the best interests of its members, not in the best interests of the UK.

mrken30

Let's see how well May does in renegotiating a new trade tariff with the US. 4000 UK jobs are at risk. I have a feeling she will fail.

U.K. PM May Dismayed At U.S. Bombardier Tariff Decision | Fortune

I agree, it's times like this, the EU had some serious weight behind it.

Eeyore

She won't necessarily fail to conclude a negotiation, but the real question is what she gives up/agrees to. The US, as the massively larger party in the negotiations, holds all the cards and will basically dictate terms. They know we're over a barrel and are desperate and you can fully expect an "America first" administration to take us for everything they can think of.