Britain’s goods exports to the US fell in April by the largest amount for any month since records began in 1997 after President Donald Trump launched his global trade war.
Goods shipments to the US including precious metals fell by £2 billion ($2.7 billion) from March, which the Office for National Statistics said was “likely linked to the implementation of tariffs on goods imported to the United States.” It left sales to the US at £4.1 billion, the lowest since February 2022.
Trump hit the UK with 10% tariffs on all goods on his April 2 “Liberation Day.” Imports of steel and aluminium, and cars and car parts were subject to a higher 25% tariff.
There were decreases in exports of most commodities to the US in April, the ONS said. Exports of machinery and transport equipment decreased by £800 million because of a drop in car shipments. Chemical exports fell by £300 million. Imports from the US slid by £400 million to £4.7 billion.
The UK struck a deal with the US on May 8 lowering car tariffs and removing them on aluminium and steel but the new regime has yet to be put in place.
The total goods and services trade deficit with the rest of the world widened by £4.9 billion to £11.5 billion in the three months to April 2025.
ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said: “After increasing for each of the four preceding months, April saw the largest monthly fall on record in goods exports to the United States with decreases seen across most types of goods, following the recent introduction of tariffs.”
