由於歷史、文化等多層面的聯絡，英美關係向來微妙，英國前首相丘吉爾所說的“英美特殊關係”一直在延續。
如今，隨著特朗普政府對中國、歐盟和英國在內的貿易伙伴發起關稅戰，英美的“特殊關係”似乎產生了一些裂隙。
據《衛報》獨家披露，為應對特朗普政府發起的關稅戰，英國政府正大幅提升敏感貿易檔案的安全等級，以防止機密資訊落入美國之手。據知情人士透露，英國公務員系統修改了檔案處理指南，將部分貿易談判檔案保密等級提高，並嚴格限制其數字傳輸方式。
UK officials are tightening security when handling sensitive trade documents to prevent them from falling into US hands amid Donald Trump's tariff war, the Guardian reveals.In an indication of the strains on the "special relationship", British civil servants have changed document-handling guidance, adding higher classifications to some trade negotiation documents in order to better shield them from American eyes, sources told the Guardian.
從“共享密件”到“嚴防死守”
據《衛報》報道，此前，英美貿易談判檔案通常標註為“官方-敏感（僅限英國閱）”，允許官員們透過內部郵件鏈分享。即使在白宮排除了全面貿易協議的可能性後，英國官員仍試圖與拜登政府進行談判，使這類談判檔案的標註依然有效。
Before Trump's inauguration, UK trade documents related to US talks were generally marked "Official – sensitive (UK eyes only)", according to examples seen by the Guardian, and officials were allowed to share these on internal email chains. This classification stood while British officials attempted to negotiate with Joe Biden's administration, even after a full-blown trade deal was ruled out by the White House.
當特朗普政府剛開始對歐盟、中國及英國加徵10%-25%的汽車、鋼鐵關稅時，英國工黨領袖斯塔默仍致力於推動英美貿易協定，甚至願意在數字稅、農業等領域讓步以換取關稅豁免。
Keir Starmer has prioritised striking a trade deal with Washington, opting not to retaliate over Trump's decision to impose 10 percent tariffs on goods exported to the US, and 25 percent tariffs on UK car and steel exports, instead offering concessions on areas including digital taxes and agriculture.
美國副總統萬斯雖宣稱兩國“有真正的文化親和力”且“有可能達成一項符合兩國最佳利益的協議”，但英國幕後對本國產業和公司容易受到特朗普“美國優先”議程影響的擔憂正在增加。
JD Vance said on Tuesday he believed a mutually beneficial US-UK trade deal was within reach. The US vice-president said officials were "certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer's government" on a trade deal, adding that it was an "important relationship"."There's a real cultural affinity," Vance said. "And, of course, fundamentally, America is an anglo country. I think there's a good chance that, yes, we'll come to a great agreement that's in the best interest of both countries."However, behind the scenes concern is growing over the vulnerability of UK industries and companies to Trump's "America first" agenda.
據報道，有訊息人士稱，目前，來自唐寧街10號、英國外交部和商務貿易部的談判立場檔案均被附加嚴格處理指令，以避免美國攔截，其中一些甚至被歸類為“機密”和“絕密”。
Now, a far greater proportion of documents and correspondence detailing the negotiating positions being discussed by officials from No 10, the Foreign Office and the Department for Business and Trade come with additional handling instructions to avoid US interception, with some classified as "secret" and "top secret", sources said. These classifications also carry different guidance on how documents may be shared digitally, in order to avoid interception.
英國首相斯塔默和美國總統特朗普 資料圖
英國商業利益相關公司也被告知在與貿易部門和唐寧街10號共享資訊時採取額外的預防措施，其中包括在英國和歐盟開展業務的大型製藥公司。
Companies with commercial interests in the UK have also been told to take additional precautions in how they share information with the trade department and No 10, senior business sources said. These include large pharmaceutical companies with operations in the UK and EU.
大西洋彼岸的歐盟同樣加強了對美資訊戒備。《金融時報》報道稱，歐盟委員會官員訪美時需會發放“臨時手機”，以防敏感資訊遭截獲。這種同步升級的安全措施，也反映出西方盟友對特朗普貿易政策的普遍不信任。
Other reports suggest the European Commission has also changed its perspective on the risks of sensitive or secret information being intercepted by the US. Commission employees have been issued with burner phones if they are visiting the US, the Financial Times has reported.
《衛報》指出，英美之間的特殊關係能否經受住雙方在應對俄烏問題上日益分歧的政策、以及對北約和防務合作的尖銳批評，正引發外界更廣泛的質疑。在貿易領域，汽車製造和製藥等敏感行業的壓力也與日俱增。
Wider questions have been asked about whether the special relationship between the UK and US can withstand increasingly divergent policies on Russian hostility, as well as deep criticisms of Nato and defence collaboration. On trade, pressures are mounting in sensitive areas such as car manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
報道稱，一些觀察人士認為，特朗普上週表示將暫緩新關稅政策90天，就是為了緩解關稅政策帶來的震盪。與此情況下，歐盟委員會主席烏爾蘇拉·馮德萊恩表示，歐盟也將推遲對美國關稅的回應。
In a move regarded by some observers as an attempt to soothe market reactions, including a rise in US government borrowing costs, Trump said last week that he would delay further tariffs for 90 days. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU would also delay its response to US tariffs.
雖然有跡象表明特朗普可能會因市場對其貿易政策的反對而有所收斂，但特朗普仍在不斷提高對中國的關稅。中國商務部在宣告中表示，“鑑於在目前關稅水平下，美國輸華商品已無市場接受可能性”，並呼籲歐盟共同抵制“美式霸凌”。
Despite suggestions that Trump may be chastened by the markets' volatile response to his trade policies, the president's incremental steps have increased duties on Chinese imports to 145%. China responded on Friday by announcing it would increase tariffs on US goods to 125%. The announcement from the Chinese commerce ministry also suggested that it would not pursue higher tariffs in any further retaliatory steps against the US, adding that "at the current tariff level, there is no market acceptance for US goods exported to China".China, meanwhile, urged the EU to resist Trump's "bullying".
對於歐盟而言，儘管特朗普逆轉了之前對歐盟各國僅維持了幾個小時的20%“對等關稅”，但是對鋼鐵、鋁和汽車徵收25%關稅的政策仍然有效。隨著特朗普政策不斷衝擊全球貿易秩序，昔日的“特殊關係”或將面臨更多現實利益的嚴峻考驗。
Until July, the EU will face a 10 percent duty on exports to the US, rather than the 20 percent "reciprocal tariff" rate that was in force for a matter of hours, until Trump's reversal last Wednesday. US duties of 25 percent tariffs on steel, aluminium and cars are still in place, however.
編輯：黎霈融
來源：衛報 環球雜誌
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