British exports to the United States plunged by £2 billion in April — the largest monthly drop on record — as President Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs took effect, dealing a significant blow to transatlantic trade.
According to official data released this week, UK goods exports to the US suffered their steepest fall since records began in 1997. The slump followed Trump’s announcement on 2 April of a 10% minimum tariff on UK exports, part of a wider package of levies targeting over 120 global economies.
Although the White House paused the tariffs a week later for 90 days amid backlash from allies and domestic industry groups, the initial shock has already reverberated through British exporters, particularly in sectors such as cars, steel, and aluminium. All three are also facing the threat of a further 25% import tax under the latest proposals from Washington.
In the first quarter of the year, UK firms had raced to front-load shipments ahead of the tariff deadline, with exports to the US rising steadily from January to March. The April figures now suggest that this stockpiling surge has sharply reversed.
The disruption comes amid wider uncertainty in UK-US trade relations. Despite recent talks to finalise a bilateral steel deal, questions remain over whether the UK will be exempted from the full brunt of the new American tariff regime.
Trade bodies have warned that the volatility is already denting confidence among exporters. One industry source said: “Businesses made a huge effort to move goods early, but this cliff-edge approach to tariffs is costing us dearly. The stop-start policy makes planning virtually impossible.”
With the 90-day pause set to expire in early July, the pressure is now on the UK government to secure a long-term deal that protects its exporters from escalating trade barriers.
For now, the latest data marks a stark warning: despite a strong start to the year, UK-US trade faces serious headwinds if clarity and cooperation aren’t restored soon.
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Record fall in British exports to us as Trump tariffs bite