FT reported on Britain's preparations for retaliatory measures in case the US imposes duties

The UK is developing action plans for possible retaliatory measures if US President Donald Trump imposes duties on British goods. The Financial Times (FT) writes about this on Monday, February 3.

"The UK is out of line, but I'm sure it can be resolved. But the European Union, it's an atrocity what they've done," the newspaper quoted Trump as saying.

An official from the team of the kingdom's prime minister, Keir Starmer, said they looked forward to working closely with Trump, but ministers "will always do what is best in the national interest".

Downing Street left open the possibility of tit-for-tat retaliation if Trump targets the UK, but declined to discuss "hypothetical situations", the newspaper said.

One Trouble, Seven Answers: What countries around the world will object to Trump's tariffs

Most nations are hoping to persuade the U.S. leader to take it easy

Earlier in the day, Trump had a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during which they discussed the situation with the imposition of duties on goods from Canada and Mexico. He intends to talk to him again today at 15:00 local time (23:00 Moscow time).

On the same day, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, said that the tariffs imposed by Trump on Mexico, Canada and China are aimed at fighting fentanyl, not at starting a trade war. He said Canada misunderstood the wording in Trump's executive order, interpreting it as the start of a trade war.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Feb. 1 imposing trade tariffs of 25 percent on goods from Canada, China and Mexico. Then he also promised to impose duties on goods from the EU. With this decision, Trump seeks to reduce the flow of the opioid fentanyl across the border, as well as the flow of migrants.

Chinese economist Andrew Leung, in turn, told Izvestia that the tariffs imposed by Trump on imports of goods from China and Mexico will lead to an increase in consumer prices in the United States itself.