U.K. goods exported to the U.S. dropped by £2 billion ($2.71 billion) in April, figures published by the Office for National Statistics on Thursday showed, marking the biggest monthly decrease since records began in 1997.
The value of Britain’s exports stateside was the lowest since February 2022 at £4.1 billion, with the ONS saying the shift was “likely linked to the implementation of tariffs on goods imported to the United States.” Cars, chemicals and metals exports all saw declines, the ONS said.
U.S. imports to the U.K. dipped by £400 million for the month to £4.7 billion, taking Washington back to a trade surplus in goods with the country for the first time since May 2024. Trade data shows U.K. businesses heavily ramped up their exports to the U.S. from the start of 2025 as rumors about the introduction of tariffs — eventually confirmed on April 2 — swirled.
The main goods sent by the U.K. to the U.S. include automotives, medicines, mechanical generators, scientific instruments and aircraft. The U.K. meanwhile has a strong appetite for U.S. oil, as well as its own pharmaceutical products and aircraft.
The U.K. and U.S. announced the outline of a trade deal at the start of May, but the agreement still imposed 10% blanket tariffs on British goods sent stateside and has not yet been fully implemented. U.S. President Donald’s Trump’s universal 25% duties on steel and aluminum are set to be slashed to zero for the U.K., while up to 100,000 British cars a year will be hit with a rate of 10% rather than 25%, but higher tariffs remain in force while final details of the deal are confirmed.
