The UK will make it easier to attract global talent at a time when the US is making it harder, the chancellor has said, in a direct reference to a recent overhaul of American visa policy.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced a 50-fold hike in the cost of skilled-worker permits to $100,000 (£74,000), causing confusion as staff from US tech firms rushed back to the USA.
"While President Trump announced late last week that it will make it harder to bring talent to the US, we want to make it easier to bring talent to the UK," Rachel Reeves said on Tuesday.
The BBC understands the government plans to double the number of high skilled foreign worker visas to around 18,000 a year.
Reeves comments come after the UK trumpeted a £150bn tech deal with the US during Trump's second state visit.
