A lot of Brits – in particular, those who own businesses – have been left perturbed by Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

From today (12 March), there will be a 25 percent surcharge on any of the metals which are brought into the US from abroad, including on imports from the UK.

Industry bosses on our side of the pond have warned that Trump‘s hike in taxes on goods is comparable to ‘taking a sledgehammer’ to free trade, with UK Steel saying it will have ‘huge ramifications’.

A host of people have been left pondering over what this actually means for our country, considering the US is our second largest export market for steel and aluminium after Europe.

William Bain, head of trade policy for the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), has now shared his expert opinion on what consequences Trump’s tariffs will have for the average person in the UK.

The BCC’S head of trade policy warned that it’s the average American who will pay the price for Trump’s tariffs (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

He explained that this plunges both countries on either side of the Atlantic into a ‘new age of uncertainty’, while sharing a wartime-inspired call to action for business owners in Britain.

“Keep calm and carry on exporting,” Bain told LADbible. “These are quite difficult times, but it’s important to emphasise just how important our US/UK commercial relationships are.

“They’ve gone on for centuries, they will go on for centuries. We’ve had tariffs from the US before and we carried on trading. The important thing is not to panic.

“There will be some impacts here, but we can work to mitigate them.

“I think the strength of our commercial, cultural and many other ties with the US will win – we will get through this period and still continue to have a close relationship with the US economy and society.”

Starting off with a dose of positivity might hopefully make the rest of Bain’s assessment of the tariffs a bit easier to swallow – but don’t worry, us lot don’t come off too badly.

The trade policy chief, who advised on Brexit, explained that the BCC has been advising a host of UK firms over the last week about how to handle this situation – down to how to best go about contacting US customs.

UK business owners are hoping Starmer can smooth things out with the US President (CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Bain said it’s a ‘really worrying and uncertain time’ for a host of business owners who are being forced to navigate this unknown territory alone, as these tariffs apply to a ‘broad range’ of steel and aluminium goods.

It’s not just the likes of car manufacturers who will feel the hit, as the former Labour MP explained that a lot of ‘downstream products’ are also slapped with the 25 percent tariffs too, rather than just large-scale exports.

“Things like tinfoil, a sofa that’s got a steel frame in it, construction materials that have steel plus a concrete element in it…it’s goods that have steel in them which are now affected as well,” he continued.

“So there’s a big range of companies affected by it, and it is a concern.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he intended to take a ‘pragmatic approach’ to the tariffs while negotiating an economic deal with the US.

Bain believes that the UK will probably start to notice the effects that the tariffs will have on trade with the US by mid-March, as he reckons there’s going to be a significant reduction in what we’re exporting.

Still, he remains certain that better days will be on the horizon soon enough…and if not, companies ought to consider prioritising commerce in other countries instead.

“Things will correct themselves over time,” Bain said. “Companies are putting strategies in place, they’ll look at diversifying trade as well. So they’ll adjust, but it could be a painful few weeks or months ahead.”

But it’s our American counterparts who are going to bear the brunt of this fallout, as they are the ones who have to put their hands in their pockets and fork out for the 25 percent tariffs.

Bain reckons that consumers in the States could end up coughing up at least another £14billion a year for these costs.

The US could cough up a hefty amount (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Despite this, Trump insisted the introduction of the tariffs marks the ‘beginning of making America rich again’, promising they will protect US manufacturing and increase jobs.

“It is a matter of fact that it is going to be the importers in the States who have to pay these taxes in order for the goods to be released from the port and go into supply chains or warehouses or shops,” Bain went on.

He added: “I think the concern for businesses over here is, will the customers in the US still want to buy at those prices? That is the concern, and also the uncertainty.

“[Trump] has chopped and changed an awful lot, sometimes every couple of hours. So businesses don’t know whether they are coming or going.”

Donald Trump has indicated a change of heart after he announced a major escalation in the US’ trade war with Canada earlier today.

The US has threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico more than once, only to back off following talks with the leaders of those countries.

However, Trump once again pledged to stick 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium starting tomorrow (12 March).

Around 90 percent of Canada’s aluminium exports go to the US, and the US bought around six million tonnes of Canadian steel last year.

In response, the Canadian province of Ontario countered that by adding a 25 percent surcharge on energy exported to the US states of New York, Michigan and Minnesota as Ontario’s premier Doug Ford said that the province would not back down ‘until the threat of tariffs is gone for good’.

Donald Trump threatened to hike Canada’s tariffs to 50 percent and said they should become the 51st state (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump then escalated the trade war he has kicked off with various countries by declaring that some of the tariffs on Canada would be doubled to 50 percent.

Writing in his usual shouty fashion on Truth Social, Trump said: “I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.”

Trump also said he would declare a ‘national emergency’ in the three US states which would experience the surcharge in energy imported from Canada.

After Trump announced he was increasing the tariffs, the American stock market fell again, and yesterday (10 March) has been the worst day in US markets this year.

But there has since been a sign tensions could deescalate.

Doug Ford said he was pausing the energy surcharge after the US commerce secretary offered an ‘olive branch’ (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Ford has now said he will suspend the surcharge in energy prices on the three US states, explaining that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had extended an ‘olive branch’ and asked Canadian officials to come to Washington, D.C., for a meeting.

He said that the ‘temperature needs to come down’ and is ‘pretty confident’ that the US will pull back on Trump’s declaration of 50 percent tariffs.

Ford said: “You can’t attack your number one customer, Canada, and not expect a response.”

When asked if he would reconsider the 50 percent tariffs following Ford’s comments, Trump said: “I’m looking at that, but probably so.”

A joint US-Canada statement read: “Today, United States Secretary of Commerce @howardlutnick and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford had a productive conversation about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada.

“Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Premier Ford in Washington on Thursday, March 13 alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline. In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 percent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.”

President Donald Trump has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he’s ‘gambling with World War Three’ in an explosive discussion at the White House.

On Friday (28 February), the pair – along with Vice President JD Vance – met in the Oval Office where they discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a clip shared online, Trump can be heard telling Zelenskyy: “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards … You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War III!”

The pair could be seen arguing as a heated discussion escalated.

Trump could be heard telling the Ukrainian president: “You either make a deal or we are out.

“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.

“We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel, because you’re in no position to dictate that… You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel.

“We’re going to feel very good and very strong.

“You’re not in a very good position, you’ve allowed yourself to be in a bad position… you don’t have the cards right now… you’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.”

Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelenskyy he was ‘gambling with World War Three’ (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

At one point, Vance interjected, asking the Ukrainian president: “In this entire meeting, have you said thank you?

“You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October, offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.”

Trump added: “Your country is in big trouble. Wait a minute. No, no, you’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.”

Vance asked Zelenskyy if he had said ‘thank you’ (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The White House has since responded to the exchange, with Trump’s special assistant and communications adviser Margo Martin writing on X: “President Trump and Vice President Vance will always stand for America and those who respect our position in the world. America will never be taken advantage of.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump later added that Zelenskyy could ‘come back when he is ready for peace’.

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” he wrote.

“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Donald Trump is considering ignoring an important aspect of the NATO alliance for certain countries, according to reports from the US.

NBC News reports that Trump is ‘considering’ changing the US policy on engagement with other NATO countries so it might not defend an allied country which is attacked and isn’t spending enough money on defence.

NATO countries had pledged to be spending at least two percent of GDP on defence spending by 2024 and some nations lagging behind on this has been a consistent point of complaint for Donald Trump.

NBC reports that a trio of current and former US officials and a congressional official said Trump had discussed the possibility of changing the US approach towards their allies, and that the US might give priority on military exercises that are meeting the spending threshold.

In NATO, there is something known as ‘Article 5’, which is where a country that is attacked can claim that an attack on them is an attack on all other members which would call them into a war.

Donald Trump has made a lot of noises about NATO (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

Article 5 has only ever been invoked once, and that’s by the US itself in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks.

If the US was to pick and choose not to defend certain countries which form part of NATO, then it would rather blow a whole in the principles of Article 5 and the idea that an invaded member of the alliance could count on the support of others, particularly if the country that will not help is the US.

A National Security Council official said in a statement: “President Trump is committed to NATO and Article V.”

On the other hand, the number of countries which are still lagging behind the two percent target is not extensive, and most of them aren’t in much danger of being invaded at the moment.

In Europe, the NATO countries which aren’t yet at the spending target are Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Slovakia and Croatia.

Not coming to the aid of a NATO ally would blow a hole in the alliance (NurPhoto / Contributor/Getty)

The countries which border an aggressive and expansionist nation, like Russia, are all spending above the target, some of them quite significantly.

So, while the consequences of the US not coming to the aid of a NATO ally would undermine one of the foundational principles of the alliance, any such change that Trump is currently ‘considering’ may not have much of an actual impact in the world.

Meanwhile, with Trump’s administration pausing military aid for Ukraine and withdrawing intelligence support many European nations have been exploring options for alliances that would not rely on the US any more.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has talked about building a ‘coalition of the willing’ to help Ukraine, and UK officials have said that around 20 countries have expressed an interest in contributing.

Over in France, Emmanuel Macron has said that his nation’s nuclear deterrent, which operates independent from the US, could be used to protect the entire continent of Europe.