LONDON — The U.K. is ready to slap duties on American goods if Britain fails to secure a deal exempting it from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff armageddon.
The government asked businesses to point to products where tariffs would hurt U.K. companies the least, in a 417-page list published today. It came as British Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the U.K. would “not hesitate to act” after Trump last night announced a 10 percent tariff on U.K. goods imported into the U.S. from April 5.
Trump also confirmed Wednesday a 25 percent duty on car imports, effective from today, while U.K. exporters are also subject to a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum, which came in in March.
The U.K. government has said it is not planning any immediate retaliation to the tariffs as it holds out hope for an economic deal that would exempt British exporters from the duties.
But addressing MPs on Thursday, Reynolds said the government would consult with industry on possible retaliatory measures if the U.K. fails to secure an agreement, describing the move as a “formal step, necessary for us to keep all options on the table.”
The government has not indicated where it would levy tariffs, instead asking businesses for their thoughts. But it ruled out any duties on products such as medical supplies and military equipment.
“We will seek the views of UK stakeholders over four weeks until 1st May 2025 on products that could potentially be included in any UK tariff response,” Reynolds said. “This exercise will also give businesses the chance to have their say, and influence the design of any possible UK response.”
The plans, published on the government website, include the possibility of tariffs on steel, meat, dairy, plants, car parts, and certain materials and chemicals. While less conventional items on the list include pure-bred breeding horses, fish waste, toilet paper and gloves that are “impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with rubber, knitted or crocheted.”
The list of potential tariff targets marks a departure from Britain’s game plan under the previous Trump administration, when the U.K. carried over tariffs from the European Union on quintessentially American products such as Jack Daniel’s bourbon, Levi’s jeans and Harley Davidson motorcycles.
If the U.K. is able to secure an economic deal with the U.S. that staves off the tariffs, Reynolds said “the request for input will be paused, and any measures flowing from that, will be lifted.”
The minister was optimistic about the possibility of a carve-out, claiming “a deal is not just possible, it is favourable to both countries,” with opportunities to deepen cooperation in “defence, economic security, financial services, machinery, tech and regulation.”
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