Thread by @benrileysmith

EXC: Britain has been on a fierce lobbying drive in Washington to stop Trump’s 25% car tariff.

Cab ministers, UK ambassador and senior officials all pushing. Fears it would do more damage than steel tariffs.

Full story: telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/…

Decision on whether to impose up to 25% tariff on car imports due by end of the week from US Commerce Dep.

Britain, which exports c. 200,000 cars to US a year, would get whacked if they go for it. (Trump has publicly talked up the idea).

In last few months there's been a big push from UK to stop it. Liam Fox has talked to his opposite men Wilbur Ross + Robert Leithauser.

Our man in DC Sir Kim Darroch has also been pushing message in Congress. (Most Republicans are with us, I'm told, despite Trump stance).

There's a belief that Trump admin's argument for tariffs if they go ahead - that car imports undermine national security - is "ludicrous".

Understand Britain would be hit by the tariff even after Brexit under May's plan to keep us closely aligned to Brussels. So no sudden relief post-March 29.

Tariffs would be a sizable blow to the UK car industry just as it's coming to terms with post-Brexit realities.

Also yet another example of how May and Trump's policy agendas don't match up. (True for many European leaders to be fair.)