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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
National
Rohit David

Trump's Tariff Tsunami Triggers UK U-Turn On Electric Car Targets In Bid To Save Auto Industry

Starmer’s relaxing electric car targets to shield Britain’s £70B ($90B) auto industry from US tariffs. (Credit: Photo by Kindel Medi : Pexels)

The UK is hitting the brakes on its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, and it's all thanks to Donald Trump's tariff tsunami. On 7 April 2025, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans to loosen strict EV sales targets, a move aimed at protecting Britain's car industry from the crushing weight of new US import levies.

With Trump's administration slapping a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico—and a 10-54% range on others—the UK's automotive sector, a £70 billion ($89 billion) economic engine, faced a stark choice: adapt or crumble.

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