Addressing a group of tech chiefs in Washington DC, the VP said: “I’d say that if you look in nearly every country, from Canada to the UK, that imported large amounts of cheap labour, you’ve seen productivity stagnate.

“That’s not a total happenstance. I think that the connection is very direct.”

Vance argued that the tariffs along with technological advances would help the US rebuild its manufacturing base.

He explained that by imposing tariffs on a vital industry like auto manufacturing, pairing it with advanced robotics, lower energy costs, and other productivity-boosting tools for American workers, it creates a multiplying effect.

“Now that, in turn, allows firms to make things here at a price-competitive basis,” he added.

The American VP’s comments come as he has been a fierce critic of the UK since assuming his role.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference last month, he hit out at countries in Europe for restricting free speech, citing the example of Adam Smith-Connor, who was arrested after praying silently outside an abortion clinic in Bournemouth.

In his speech, he also singled out the UK’s immigration policies, claiming Brexit voters had been betrayed by elites opening “the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants”.

Vance was also recently accused of disrespecting Britain’s troops, after appearing to claim that the UK and France had not fought a war in 40 years – which he has denied.

More than 600 British troops were killed between 2001 and 2014, fighting alongside the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.