Donald Trump’s approach to negotiations is becoming ever more predictably unpredictable – verbally attack or even abuse partners, use the time during the ensuing chaos to think things out and then kiss and make up – as with Jean-Claude Junker this week – while claiming victory for a job well done. The unexpected becomes expected.
But against a backgound of finalising Brexit negotiations, where does this leave UK tariffs with these major trading blocks for everything from soya to natural gas with respect to both the EU and the US? Going forward, the UK will no longer be able to claim automatic alignment with the EU 27. Any subsequent but separate bilateral trade deal with the US will create anomalies with any EU trade arrangements. Unchartered territory.