Dar es Salaam, Feb. 3 -- WASHINGTON: Keir Starmers meeting with EU chiefs threatens to be overshadowed by the threat of an international trade war as countries hit by Donald Trumps tariffs vow retaliation.

The UK prime minister will urge Europe to bear down on Vladimir Putins Russia when he meets the heads of the 27 EU governments on Monday, as he continues efforts to reset Britains relationship with the trade bloc.

But the gathering, meant to focus on defence co-operation, is likely to be preoccupied with news from across the Atlantic.

The US president has announced he will impose 25% trade taxes on goods coming from Americas nearest neighbours and largest trade partners – Canada and Mexico – as well as a 10% levy on Chinese...