President Donald Trump has escalated his trade war once again, slapping new tariffs on 60 countries and accusing them of not doing enough to tackle forced labour. The tariffs, which now account for 99% of all US imports, leave the UK at a distinct disadvantage: while Britain’s rate stays at the 10% secured by Sir Keir Starmer last year, the European Union has secured a better deal, undercutting the Prime Minister’s hard-won agreement.
Two small US businesses have already sued the Trump administration over the new tariffs, arguing that the president unlawfully used Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose duties of between 10% and whatever higher rates apply to other countries. The lawsuit, filed in the US Court of International Trade, challenges the legality of the rebooted trade policy and threatens to trigger another protracted legal battle over Trump’s aggressive trade tactics.
“Trump slaps tariffs on 60 countries; UK stuck at 10% rate while EU gets better deal.”
The move signals that the White House is doubling down on its America-first approach, even as trading partners scramble to respond. For British exporters, the fear is that the UK will be squeezed between a more favourably treated EU and a US administration increasingly willing to weaponise tariffs — with no guarantee that Starmer’s previous deal will hold.