Trade Wars! Doh! The UK Economy Feels the Force (and Tariffs)

A Great Disturbance in the Trade There Is

Hmm troubled waters the Force senses. Down by £2 billion UK exports to the US have gone in April. Since 1997 such a fall not seen. Lowest since February 2022 the value is at £4.1 billion. Tariffs on goods the culprit they are imposed by the United States. Like sand through my fingers credits slip.

Cars and Chemicals Wiped Out They Were

Cars chemicals metals... diminished all of them. Like Alderaan after the Death Star their economies have exploded. A dark day for British trade this is. 'Size matters not,' I once said. But in trade my young Padawans size is everything it seems.

Surplus the US Now Has

£400 million U.S. imports to the UK have dipped. A trade surplus for Washington the first since May 2024 it is. Feel the shift in the Force I do. Unbalanced everything is becoming. Control control you must learn control but the UK must learn to produce.

Tariff Tantrums and Trade Deals

Rumors of tariffs like whispers in the dark from the start of 2025 they swirled. Exports ramped up the UK did before the storm hit. Automotives medicines aircraft… sent stateside they were. Oil and pharmaceuticals the U.S. exports. 'Always two there are no more no less. A master and an apprentice.' But what of trade do they both benifit?

Trump's Tariff Tactics

A trade deal announced it was but tariffs remain. 10% on British goods it is. Trump favorable to the UK he seems unlike the European Union. Relations friendly with Prime Minister Starmer he has. Balanced historically the UK U.S. trade has been. 'Fear is the path to the dark side...fear leads to anger...anger leads to hate...hate leads to suffering.' And tariffs young ones often lead to all of the above.

A Deficit of Despair

A £4.4 billion rise the trade deficit shows a total of £60 billion. Services dipped too. Erratic the data may be the ONS says. Contraction of 0.3% the economy experienced in April. Business sentiment on edge it remains. 'Difficult to see; always in motion is the future.' But act we must to steer clear of the dark side of trade.