The United Kingdom Rejects Call to Boycott American Products Amidst New Tariffs
On Tuesday, the British government rejected calls to boycott American products following the new tariffs imposed by the United States. Rachel Reeves, the UK’s Finance Minister, expressed her opposition to the idea, stating that Britain does not wish to find itself in a trade war that would lead it to withdraw into isolation. She added, “If all the countries in the world decided to buy only locally produced goods, it would not be a good solution.”
The calls for a boycott of American products came from the Liberal Democrats, the second largest opposition party, which suggested that Britons should favor “locally made” products in response to the American tariffs.
In response to these calls, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister emphasized that the UK remains an “open trading nation.” He clarified that the British government would not advise citizens to avoid American products, as this would go against Britain’s image as a trading country. However, he added that the decision to buy or not buy American products ultimately lies with the consumers.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in on the issue on Monday, pledging to reduce tariffs with the UK’s key trading partners. He highlighted that the government would continue working on a trade agreement with the United States, despite the new tariffs. During his visit to a Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing unit in the West Midlands, he warned that the American tariffs could have a significant impact on British industries, but he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to support these sectors.
Under the new American trade measures, the UK secured a relatively low tariff rate of 10% as part of the package announced by President Donald Trump.
