Wed, 02 Apr 2025

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 UK firms react to Trump tariffs: 'It's a huge blow to Scotland's whisky industry'

Business in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tell us what US tariffs could mean for them.

* The UK will face 10% tariffs on its exports to the US
* Scotch whisky makers, particularly Anthony Wills from Kilchoman distillery, are concerned about the impact on their industry, which is worth £971m a year in the US market
* Wills expects to split the cost of the tariff with his US importer and keep prices the same for American customers
* The Scottish Whisky Association estimates that 18 months of previous tariffs resulted in a loss of £600m in sales
* Denise Cole from Tomoe Valve, which exports valves to the US, is unconcerned about the tariffs, citing their specialist products as not being manufactured in the US
* The company's biggest order worth £1.2m came from the US and Cole believes that any changes could be "short-lived"
* Barkley Plastics, which supplies parts to carmakers including Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan, expects the new tariffs on cars entering the US will affect their business significantly
* Managing director Matt Harwood says the UK's automotive industry is already under pressure and fears job losses or even business closures if demand drops further
* Northern Ireland exported goods worth £1.9bn to the US in 2022 and watchmaker Nomadic makes 22% of its sales in the US, with founder Peter McAuley expressing concern about the impact on his business
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