New data from the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlights the lingering impact of tariffs imposed by the former US administration on cross-Atlantic trade. According to figures released on Friday, May 2, 2026, British goods exports to the United States have taken a significant hit since the measures were introduced over a year ago.
The ONS reported that in April 2025, following the tariff implementation, exports to the US excluding precious metals fell by £1.5 billion, a sharp decline of 24.7%. This downturn has persisted, with trade levels remaining subdued in the subsequent months leading into 2026.
A sector particularly affected is automotive. Exports of cars to the US market dropped after the duties were levied and have consistently stayed below pre-tariff benchmarks since April 2025.
This sustained pressure on UK-US trade flows underscores the long-term consequences of trade policy shifts, a point of interest for global economic observers, including those monitoring Asia's interconnected markets and economic stability.
Reference(s):
UK trade with US still reeling from Trump tariffs, official data shows
cgtn.com
