Inaugural SXSW London Opens With Mayor Sadiq Khan Taking Shots at ‘Inward-Looking Mentality’ of U.S. and Trump Tariffs: ‘The U.K. is Tearing Down Barriers to Trade, Not Putting Up Walls’

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The inaugural SXSW London has officially been opened by London mayor Sadiq Khan.

During a speech at the Truman Brewery in the vibrant district of Shoreditch on Monday morning, Khan praised London as a “nesting ground for creativity,” an “entry point to global opportunities,” and a “center for skills, commerce, technology, and invention.

He additionally leveraged stage appearances to attract investment to London, emphasizing the “doubt and political instability” and a “self-centered attitude” prevalent in the U.S., while criticizing the tariffs implemented by Donald Trump during his second term in office.

London is a place that strongly supports business, economic growth, and free speech. With recent trade agreements with India, the U.S., and the E.U., which involve removing trade barriers rather than erecting them, there’s never been a more opportune moment to come here and innovate, collaborate, and invest in our city,” he stated.

In other places, you may encounter doubt, instability, and attempts to roll back personal freedoms, press freedom, and democratic principles. However, this is not the case in London. In London, it’s not just about maintaining stability and certainty; it’s about finding a city that proudly stands as a fortress against hate and discrimination. Moreover, London gleams as a beacon of hope, progress, and limitless potential.

Following the given theme, Khan emphasized that in London, “we don’t just accept diversity, we embrace inclusivity,” and in a comment perceived as targeting the current U.S. administration, he described the city as a “hospitable haven for international students.

Back in 2018, I had the privilege of taking the stage at SXSW in Austin. It was there that I urged the tech community to channel our revolutionary advancements towards societal benefits. Fast forward to today, with AI making giant strides, the discourse at this year’s SXSW London feels remarkably consequential. I’m committed to positioning London as a global hub for AI investment and innovation.

He stated that he wants the groundbreaking technologies of this century not only developed in London, but influenced by our principles. This way, we can minimize potential risks, eradicate biases and discrimination, and make certain that ethical aspects of any new technology are as important as commercial factors.

The inaugural SXSW London takes place from June 2nd to 7th, featuring prominent figures like Idris Elba, Gillian Anderson, and the CEOs of Twitch, WPP, OnlyFans, and Google Deepmind as speakers.

EbMaster parent company PMC owns the SXSW franchise.

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2025-06-02 13:16