Readers Blog: US hoping to divide and conquer EU with tariffs

US President Donald Trump’s former adviser, Steve Bannon, who recently visited Italy and Switzerland with his anti-globalist message, proclaimed, at a National Front conference in France: “God bless America and vive la France”.

But he is a believer in Trump’s message of America First, so there is little likelihood of France, Italy, or Switzerland not having US tariffs imposed on their export goods, once they are together outside the EU. Not all European countries are going to be as lucky as Britain to have a special relationship with the US. So, if Mr Bannon and the National Front get their wish, that the EU breaks up, then smaller countries, like Italy, Switzerland and Ireland, will likely have to join the queue behind Britain to get favourable trading terms with the US. Then, what will be the chances of Marine Le Pen’s France ever being treated equally to Britain?