What are Trump's tariffs and how will they affect the UK?
Donald Trump has ignited a global trade war after imposing tariffs on some of the US's closest allies.
The US president has imposed 25pc levies on Mexican and Canadian goods, having already added an additional tariff on goods imported from China.
Trump has also slapped higher tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, in a measure that UK producers say will prove a 'devastating blow'.
In February, he announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, but these are not expected to come into force until April.
Further action is expected against the European Union, while it remains unclear whether Britain will be directly targeted.
Trump's proclamations on tariffs have been vague and often changeable, with threats repeatedly made and then rolled back. The uncertainty has sparked turmoil in global markets. But what are tariffs – and what impact will they have?
What are tariffs?
What tariffs has Trump imposed?
Why has Trump imposed tariffs?
Who pays the tariffs?
How will Trump's tariffs affect Americans?
What does the UK export to the US?
What are retaliatory tariffs?
What reciprocal tariffs has the president announced?
What are tariffs and how do they work?
A tariff is a tax imposed by one country on goods imported from others. In addition to being the world's largest economy, the US is also the leading global importer, pulling in $3.2 trillion (£2.5 trillion) worth of goods in 2023.
Tariffs are collected by the customs authority of the country that imposes the levy. In the US, they're paid to the Customs and Border Protection agency at ports of entry across the country. In the UK, it's HM Revenue & Customs.
What tariffs has Trump imposed?
Trump, who has long raised the prospect of new tariffs, signed an executive order imposing fresh tariffs on Feb 2.
The US has doubled the levy on Chinese goods to 20pc.
After a delay of a month, the US president implemented a 25pc duty on goods from Mexico and Canada, with Canadian oil hit by a lower 10pc levy. Just two days later, and following a backlash from car manufacturers including Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, Trump granted a reprieve exempting a significant number of Canadian and Mexican goods from the tariffs until April 2. Justin Trudeau, the former Canadian prime minister, said he had had a 'colourful' phone call with Trump about the tariffs, with the US president reportedly using profane language.
Trump has separately imposed 25pc tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminium, extending a 10pc levy he previously imposed in 2018. The president briefly threatened to escalate his trade war with Canada by doubling these metal tariffs to 50pc, but quickly rowed back on the threat.
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