London / Washington DC: Peter Mandelson is set to be announced as the UK’s next ambassador to the United States, marking the first time in almost 50 years that a politician has been appointed to the role.
Keir Starmer is expected to officially name Lord Mandelson, a former Labour minister and European Commissioner for Trade, to the position as Donald Trump begins his second term as president.
This development comes at a time when the UK faces significant challenges regarding trade relations with the US under Trump’s leadership.
The Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeny, recently travelled to Washington to engage in talks with Trump’s incoming White House team.
The UK government believes Mandelson, who served as business secretary under Gordon Brown, president of the Board of Trade in 1998, and European Commissioner for Trade in 2004, has the trade expertise and diplomatic connections needed to advance the UK’s interests during this “delicate period” for US-UK relations.
Mandelson’s appointment is particularly timely given Trump’s proposed universal tariffs of up to 20% on all imported goods, a move that would likely raise the cost of goods for American consumers.
Mandelson, who has extensive experience in navigating trade challenges, previously noted that the UK must strike a careful balance between its relations with the US and the EU.
Speaking on a podcast, he suggested that Britain must find a way to “have our cake and eat it” in dealing with potential US tariffs while maintaining strong ties with the European Union.
ALSO READ | Fukushima City to tighten garbage disposal rules with ‘Public naming’
