US Tariffs Reshape UK Trade Landscape: Reduced Rates for Britain, Increased Costs for Exporters Under Trump Order

Listeners, here’s the latest on United Kingdom tariffs and US policy, recorded on Friday, August 8th, 2025.

Following President Trump’s July 31 Executive Order, sweeping new US tariffs took effect yesterday, August 7th, reshaping the global trade landscape. The UK, after intensive negotiation, is now subject to a 10 percent baseline tariff on most goods entering the United States, which is a notably reduced rate compared to many other countries. Canada now faces a 35 percent tariff, Brazil and India are at an unprecedented 50 percent, and Mexico’s rate has been held at 25 percent for an additional 90-day negotiation window. According to The Independent, only select major trading partners managed to lower their rate—Japan, South Korea, and the European Union settled at 15 percent after making commercial concessions.

British exporters should note that specialty tariffs remain: aluminum and steel from the UK are subject to a 25 percent duty, unchanged through these latest updates. For automobiles, there is a 25 percent tariff on cars, though the UK benefitted from a quota system and some tariff offsets on parts, following an agreement struck in April. USTR notices confirm these rates will stay in effect, intended to support US domestic production and, as the Trump administration argues, rebalance the longstanding trade deficit.

One headline development impacting UK businesses, especially smaller exporters, is the elimination of the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments under $800. From August 29, all UK goods entering the US will be subject to tariffs regardless of value, a move described by Mitchells as a major blow to UK small and medium-sized exporters.

US Customs and Border Protection began collecting these new duties at midnight on Thursday. Trump declared "billions of dollars" would flow into the US Treasury, boasting that only trade partners granting concessions or making significant purchases—such as the UK’s commitment to buy $10 billion in Boeing planes—received a preferential tariff rate. Prices on many imported goods, including British products, are already rising, as confirmed by companies updating price tags to offset higher tariff costs.

The Trump administration continues to frame these tariffs as vital for national security and economic independence, but economists warn the measures could dampen GDP growth and affect both sides of the Atlantic. The OECD and World Bank recently downgraded US growth projections, directly citing the impact of aggressive tariff policies.

Listeners, that’s the essential rundown on current US tariff actions and what they mean for UK trade. Thanks for tuning in to United Kingdom Tariff News and Tracker. Don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Listeners. Here's the latest on United Kingdom tariffs and US policy,
recorded on Friday, August eighth, twenty twenty five. Following President
Trump's July thirty first executive order, sweeping new US tariffs
took effect yesterday, August seventh, reshaping the global trade landscape.
The UK, after intensive negotiation, is now subject to a

(00:22):
ten percent baseline tariff on most goods entering the United States,
which is a notably reduced rate compared to many other countries.
Canada now faces a thirty five percent tariff, Brazil and
India are at an unprecedented fifty percent, and Mexico's rate
has been held at twenty five percent for an additional
ninety day negotiation window. According to The Independent, only select

(00:46):
major trading partners managed to lower their rate. Japan, South
Korea and the European Union settled at fifteen percent after
making commercial concessions. British exporters should note that specialty tariffs remained.
Aluminum and steel from the UK are subject to a
twenty five per cent duty unchanged through these latest updates.

(01:07):
For automobiles, there is a twenty five percent tariff on cars,
though the UK benefited from a quota system and some
tariff offsets on parts. Following an agreement struck in Apron,
USDR notices confirmed these rates will stay in effect, intended
to support US domestic production and as the Trump administration argues,

(01:27):
rebans the long standing trade deficit. One headline development impacting
UK businesses, especially smaller exporters, is the elimination of the
deminimous exemption for low value shipments under eight hundred dollars.
From August twenty nine, all UK goods entering the US
will be subject to tariffs regardless of value, a move

(01:49):
described by Mitchell's as a major blow to UK small
and medium size exporters. U S Customs in Border Protection
began collecting these new duties at midnight on Thursday. Trump
declared billions of dollars would flow into the U S Treasury,
boast all that only trade partners granting concessions or making

(02:09):
significant purchases, such as the UK's commitment to buy ten
billion dollars in Boeing planes, received a preferential tariff rate.
Prices on many imported goods, including British products, are already rising,
as confirmed by companies updating price tags to offset higher
tariff costs. The Trump administration continues to frame these tariffs

(02:31):
as vital for national security and economic independence, but economists
warned the measures could dampen GDP growth and effect both
sides of the Atlantic. The OECD and World Bank recently
downgraded US growth projections directly citing the impact of aggressive
tariff policies. Listeners at the essential rundown on current U

(02:53):
s teriff actions and what they mean for UK trade.
Thanks for tuning in to United Kingdom Tariff News and Tracker.
Don't forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production.
For more check out Quiet Please DOTTYI