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Global cost of Trump trade war ‘could reach $1.4tn’; Goldman Sachs cuts UK growth forecast over tariff spillovers – business live


Global cost of 2025 tariff war could reach $1.4tn, report finds

A full-blown trade war between the US and its trading partners could cost $1.4tn, a new report shows.

Economists at Aston Business School have modelled a range of potential scenarios, including the possibility that America it hit by full global retaliation after it announces new tariffs against other countries.

That full-scale trade conflict could result in a $1.4 trillion global welfare loss, Aston has calculated.

The report explains that tariff escalation leads to higher prices, reduced competitiveness, and fragmented supply chains, as we saw in 2018 in the US-China trade war.

It says:

Donald Trump’s 2025 return to power has unleashed a gale of protectionism, reshaping global trade within weeks.

They outline six scenarios, from the first wave of tariffs already announced against Canada, Mexico and China to a full-blown trade war.

Here are the key findings:

  1. US initial tariffs: US prices rise 2.7% and real GPD per capita declines 0.9%. Welfare declines in Canada by 3.2% and Mexico by 5%.

  2. Retaliation by Canada, Mexico and China: US loss deepens to 1.1%, welfare declines in Canada by 5.1% and Mexico by 7.1%.

  3. US imposes 25% tariffs on EU goods: Sharp transatlantic trade contraction, EU production disruptions, US welfare declines 1.5%.

  4. EU retaliates with 25% tariff on US goods: Prices rise across US and EU, mutual welfare losses and intensified negative outcomes for the US. UK experiences modest trade diversion benefits.

  5. US global tariff: Severe global trade contraction and substantial price hikes substantially affect North American welfare and UK trade volumes.

  6. Full global retaliation with reciprocal tariffs: Extensive global disruption and reduced trade flows, severe US welfare losses, $1.4 trillion global welfare loss projected.

The full-blown trade war (scenario 6) would have “profound implications” for interconnected economies like the UK.

The report says:

As a trade-dependent nation navigating post-Brexit realities, the UK stands at a crossroads. Trump’s tariffs disrupt supply chains and exports, yet might open doors for rerouting, with high potential for exporting much more to the U.S.

The dual-edged impacts are stark: fleeting export gains collide with vulnerabilities in critical sectors like automotive and tech, while EU divergence risks, amplified by regulatory misalignment and political distrust, threaten its efforts in resetting the UK-EU relationship.

So while the UK can use its post-Brexit flexibility to mitigate risks and leverage new trade routes, sustained gains depend on rebuilding EU ties and supporting a rules-based international trade order, they add.

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Key events

Experts have been warning today that tomorrow’s tariffs announcement could lead to increased job cuts in the UK.

Matt Swannell, chief economic advisor to the EY Item Club, said:

“US tariffs on goods imports from the UK could rise tomorrow, with survey respondents indicating that the possibility of higher tariffs is already weighing on demand for exported goods.”

He said the prospect of tariffs, coupled with weak domestic demand, is “seeing the sector cut jobs”.

Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst for Interactive Investor, has warned that the UK will be affected by the trade war, even if it manages to dodge direct tariffs:

“President Donald Trump’s tariffs war could have far-reaching consequences for Britons, even if the UK manages to escape direct levies.

“If tariffs contribute to higher inflation, central banks may be forced to tighten monetary policy, which can weigh on bonds and borrowing costs.

“This could impact everything from mortgage rates to corporate investment, potentially slowing economic growth.

“For investors with exposure to US equities – either directly or through pension funds and ISAs – this could translate into market turbulence.”





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