UK exports to US drop 24.7% as Trump tariffs bite, EU warns on trade
The United Kingdom's trade with the United States has been significantly disrupted by tariffs imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday. Britain's goods exports to the US, excluding precious metals, fell by £1.5 billion ($2.03 billion) — a drop of 24.7% — in April 2025 following the introduction of the tariffs, and have remained relatively subdued since.
Key Trade Shifts Since April 2025
The ONS data points to a structural shift in UK-US trade flows. British car exports to the United States have fallen sharply since the tariffs took effect in April 2025 and have not recovered to pre-tariff levels. More strikingly, Britain's goods imports from the US have exceeded its goods exports to the US for three consecutive months since December 2025, widening the bilateral trade deficit for the UK.
Despite the disruption, the United States remains Britain's largest goods export partner and its third-largest goods import partner, underscoring how deeply intertwined the two economies remain even as trade flows shift.
Trump's Tariff Regime and the UK Deal
Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has introduced a sweeping range of tariffs on imported goods. For the UK, this included a blanket 10% tariff on most imports, announced in April 2025. In May 2025, the two countries reached a partial trade deal that reduced tariffs on a specified number of British car exports to the US and removed tariffs on British steel and aluminium exports — provided they meet supply chain security requirements, according to the ONS.
Notably, this arrangement offered targeted relief rather than a broad reset, leaving significant portions of UK goods still subject to the baseline tariff. Critics argue the deal, while welcome, does not fully offset the damage already done to export volumes.
EU Puts Washington on Notice
The trade tensions extend beyond Britain. The European Union (EU) has signalled it will keep its options open if the United States takes measures inconsistent with a joint statement both sides signed last year on reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade. A European Commission spokesperson told Xinhua:
