UK exports to U.S. pluge 25%

UK goods exported to the US fell nearly 25% following President Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariff attack and have been quiet since then, official data shows.

Exports of goods excluding precious metals to the US fell by £1.5bn, or 24.7%, after tariffs were introduced, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Friday.

Car exports from the UK to the US have also fallen since then and have remained below pre-tariff levels in the 12 months since April 2025, the statistics agency added.

While UK goods exports remained low, goods imports rose at the start of 2026, leading to a trade deficit with the country’s largest trading partner for three consecutive months.

Last year, Britain became the first country to sign a trade deal with the Trump administration following the announcement of the president’s so-called liberation day tariffs, which roiled global markets. The terms of the agreement included a 10 percent general duty on goods imported into the United States.

This ended the zero-tariff trading environment for exporters on both sides of the Atlantic and introduced new duties on Scotch whiskey and other spirits shipped from Britain to America.

This week, Trump met with King George III after state visits. He announced that he would remove all tariffs on Scotch whiskey “in honor” of Charles and Queen Camilla.

While the Scotch whiskey industry employs around 40,000 people in Scotland and will account for 23% of all Scottish goods exports by 2025, this alone will not be enough to repair Britain’s overall deficit.

“The US remains the UK’s largest export market, so a downturn of this scale is likely to have consequences for the UK’s overall growth,” said Samuel Edwards, head of client portfolio management at Ebury.

“Exporters face a triple pressure from tariffs, rising employment costs and taxes, and input price pressures, all of which are eroding margins and making international competition difficult.”