Largest ever plunge in UK exports to US as Trump tariffs hurt growth; Britain ‘turning into a National Health State’ – business live

UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, biggest fall since October 2023, as trade with the US slumped

UK trade with the United States plunged in April, as Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs hit demand for goods.

Exports of UK goods to the United States fell by £2bn in April, the Office for National Statistics reports, which is another factor why the UK economy shrank so sharply during the month.

This is the largest monthly decrease in trade with the US since records began in January 1997 and follows four months of consecutive increases.

The ONS says this decline is “likely linked to the implementation of tariffs on goods imported to the United States”.