Donald Trump’s tariff “day of liberation” arrived with the US president imposing markups on imports while accusing other nations, including allies, of “looting, pillaging, raping and plundering” the US.
The UK got off relatively lightly with the basic 10%. Here is how major British newspapers see it.
“Trump hits UK with 10% tariffs as US ignites global trade war” says the Guardian, featuring the president holding up a schedule of what are labelled “discounted” rates compared with what other countries supposedly charge the US.
“Trump piles on the tariffs” is the headline in the Times which adds that the EU will face 20% and the start date is Saturday.
“Trump triggers $1 trillion global trade war – in threat to UK jobs and wages” That’s the i which says UK growth and global trade will suffer.
The Daily Mail announces “Trump’s tariff war on ‘foreign scavengers’” and calls it a “blizzard of damaging new tariffs” contained in a “bombshell yet often rambling announcement”.
We’re “Trading blows” in the Daily Mirror as the “World faces economic war”. Targeted nations are “poised to retaliate”, says the paper.
“Trump unleashes tariffs” is the splash headline in the Telegraph. He called it a “declaration of economic independence”, the story intro says.
The Express sees it as a win for vote leave: “Brexit Britain escapes worst of Trump tariffs pain”. So just another 10%, then, on top of the economic implications of leaving the EU.
In other news the Metro runs with “Heathrow ‘had two fire warnings’”. The actor Val Kilmer is memorialised after his death on Tuesday, aged 65.
The top story on page one of the Financial Times is “UK plan for joint European fund to help finance continent’s rearmament”. The front page also has Trump possibly selling his share in Truth Social and a possible US takeover of TikTok.
