Brussels targets Israel over Gaza crisis
The European Commission has proposed sanctions against several Israeli Cabinet ministers and violent settlers, alongside a partial suspension of Israe...
Inside Politics explored the impact of Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on UK exports. Analysts warned of serious economic consequences if Britain fails to act decisively.
On this week’s Inside Politics, presenter Anastasia Lavrina examined the mounting concerns around Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on UK exports. With over £60 billion in trade potentially affected, industries across Britain are bracing for impact.
Anastasia Lavrina: Has the UK become too dependent on the US market, making it vulnerable to this kind of pressure?
"We're not too dependent, but the US is our biggest single trading partner by country. Any hit of 5 to 10% would be deeply felt. The automotive industry alone trades nearly $10 billion with the US.
Government says it's been preparing, but I’m sceptical — talking to civil servants means little with Trump. If you don’t deal directly with him, it won’t matter.
Even if they want to support industries, the Treasury has no financial room to actually do it."
Anastasia Lavrina: Has Trump underestimated the UK’s strategic value as a trade ally?
"Trump has underestimated the world, not just the UK. His pattern is to cause chaos, then backpedal when damage is done — just like with Ukraine.
Even if we avoid some tariffs, we’ll still be hit by EU retaliation.
Northern Ireland’s already fragile. The whisky industry alone is looking at £169 million at risk. That’s serious money for regional economies.
This isn’t trade strategy — it’s a performance. And it’s turning America into an unreliable partner."
Anastasia Lavrina: Shouldn’t Britain have seen this coming, given Trump’s America First rhetoric hasn’t changed since 2016?
"Absolutely.
There was this idea — if we’re nice to Trump, he’ll be nice back. Maybe for a moment, but long-term he pushes harder.
Appeasement doesn’t work.
We should stand with allies — Canada, the EU, Japan — and respond together. Not to punish the US, but to demand fair trade.
If these tariffs go through, the global poor suffer, trade slows, and we all lose."
Anastasia Lavrina: Could these tariffs backfire by pushing Britain closer to other global partners like India or China?
"It might bring us closer to India, maybe even Europe again — but not China.
The reintegration with Europe is already happening because of Ukraine.
The problem is, Trump’s actions are immediate. Liberation Day is today. We are not ready.
Brexit already damaged our trade readiness. Farage says we missed Trump’s 2016 offer — maybe.
But today’s reality is we’re vulnerable.
A 1% GDP hit in one year? That’s massive.
Retaliatory tariffs won’t help. We need to talk. To America. To Europe. To India.
This isn’t just about whisky or car parts — it’s about how the world sees America. And right now, they see instability."
The Inside Politics discussion laid bare a sobering truth: Britain faces not just economic pressure, but a test of strategic resilience. As Donald Trump prepares to unleash a fresh wave of protectionism, the UK stands at a crossroads — between clinging to old assumptions and forging a tougher, more united trade front with global allies.
Whether through deeper ties with India, renewed cooperation with Europe, or coordinated resistance with like-minded democracies, Britain's response in the coming weeks may define its economic stability for years to come.
One thing is clear: this is no longer just a tariff story. It’s a question of whether the UK can withstand — and outmanoeuvre — a world where diplomacy is dictated by impulse.
Andy Preston, political commentator from Yorkshire
Professor Tim Wilson, geopolitical analyst
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that Russia bears responsibility for damage to a house in the village of Wyryki in eastern Poland. This statement comes amid media reports suggesting that the incident may have been caused by a stray Polish missile rather than a Russian drone.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday reduced its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to a range of 4–4.25%, responding to slowing economic growth and persistently high inflation.
The European Commission has proposed sanctions against several Israeli Cabinet ministers and violent settlers, alongside a partial suspension of Israel’s trade privileges with the bloc.
AD Ports Group has signed a contract with Baku Shipyard in Azerbaijan to build two 780-TEU shallow-draft container vessels for trade across the Caspian Sea.
The United Nations will give low-income countries more money to help them attend COP30, the global climate summit set to take place in Brazil this November, in view of soaring accommodation costs in the Amazonian city of Belem.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment