Trump’s erratic tariffs harder to navigate than pandemic, says UK export agency

UK firms exporting goods to the US will face tariffs of at least 10%, a while exporters of steel, aluminium and cars have been hit with a 25% rate. Photograph: Paul White/UK Industries/Alamy

The government agency responsible for supporting UK exporters has warned that uncertainty created by Donald Trump’s rapidly shifting tariff policies is making it difficult to predict the financial fallout for British businesses.

Tim Reid, the chief executive of UK Export Finance (UKEF), said the US president’s escalating trade war posed a unprecedented challenge.