Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Washington this week for the International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings, where global trade tensions and tariffs are top of the agenda. At a time when the UK is facing rising economic uncertainty, it’s vital the government defends the public interest, not just the profits of powerful industries.
Tom Wills, Director of the Trade Justice Movement said:
“While headlines focus on global tariffs, behind closed doors a US-UK digital trade deal is quietly being hashed out, and it could have sweeping consequences for our rights. This kind of deal risks the UK signing away the keys to our digital future.
“Digital trade agreements tie the hands of governments, making it harder to regulate artificial intelligence, protect personal data, or tax tech giants fairly. The US is already pressuring the UK to drop the Digital Services Tax and compromise on the protections which keep our children safe online.
“We need a trade policy which puts people and planet first, not a backroom deal that gives Big Tech even more power. As Rachel Reeves meets US officials, she must take a stand: no deal that locks in deregulation, no deal that puts corporate profits before public protections. This is a moment to stand up for democracy, not sell it off.”