The widespread racism and anti-immigrant sentiment across the United Kingdom in the past decades have fueled the recent protests and riots across the country, said an anti-racism protester during a protest on Wednesday.
Recently, large-scale protests against the government's immigration policy have erupted in many parts of UK since July 30, sparking riots in some areas. According to police, more than 480 have been arrested and over 100 charged since the riots broke out.
Anti-racism protesters gathered in London on Wednesday to condemn the wave of violence brought by far-right groups, holding placards with messages in support of refugees and voicing their anger over the hate being spread by far-right extremists.
"Racism that has been whipped up in this country over the last 14 years against asylum seekers and refugees has what's led us to what's been going on in the UK, particularly over the last week because the levels of racism have been so great and so appalling," said Cathy Cross, a local resident.
Among the protests held at various locations on Wednesday evening, anti-racism protesters were in the majority. These protests largely remained peaceful and did not result in large-scale disturbances.
The British government forecast more protests in the coming few days. To deter the exacerbation of the riots, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office a little over a month ago, announced on Thursday to continue to deploy additional police forces and severely punish rioters.
Widespread racism fuels recent riots in UK: anti-racism protester
Widespread racism fuels recent riots in UK: anti-racism protester
Widespread racism fuels recent riots in UK: anti-racism protester
Widespread racism fuels recent riots in UK: anti-racism protester
The unilateral imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" by the United States violates its free trade agreement with the Central American countries, and will harm the regional and its own economy, a former Guatemalan vice minister said in a recent interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Amid growing international concern, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order introducing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" on all imports, with higher rates for selected nations. The administration claimed the tariffs would level the playing field for American businesses.
"The tariff policy of the United States goes against all rules-based international trade norms. We [the Central American countries] have signed a free trade agreement with the United States, but it has violated this agreement," said Enrique Lacs, former vice minister of economy of Guatemala.
In May 2004, five Central American countries, namely Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, signed a free trade agreement with the United States. In August of the same year, the Dominican Republic also signed a free trade agreement with the United States.
According to data from the Central American Monetary Council, the United States was the largest trading partner of Central America and the Dominican Republic in 2024, with 33.7 percent of the region's imports coming from the United States and 39.5 percent of the region's exports destined for the United States. The former vice minster pointed out that the tariff policy not only affects the economies of other countries and regions, but also brings backlash to U.S. economic development.
"This tariff policy of the United States will not bring short-term benefits, it will only increase consumer costs in its domestic market," he said.
Former Guatemalan vice minister slams US tariffs as violation of regional free trade deal
