UK goods exports to US fell to 3-year low in June before trade deal

By William Schomberg

LONDON (Reuters) -British goods exports to the United States fell to their lowest level in more than three years in June, according to official data published on Thursday that showed the hit from U.S. President Donald Trump's initial import tariff blitz.

Sales of British goods to the United States fell to 3.9 billion pounds ($5.3 billion) during the month, down by 0.7 billion pounds from May and about 20% lower than a monthly average of 4.9 billion pounds in 2024.

The last time Britain exported fewer goods to the United States - including sales of precious metals which can be volatile - was in February 2022, the Office for National Statistics said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump agreed a trade deal which came into force on June 30 to cut high tariffs on cars and aerospace parts but leaves a 10% tariff on most exports with steel not yet covered.

The ONS reported decreases in exports of all commodities to the United States in June with machinery and transport equipment - including cars which were hit by higher initial U.S. duties - down by 0.2 billion pounds.

The ONS last week said a third of exporting businesses with 10 or more employees reported an impact from the U.S. tariffs.

British imports of U.S. goods increased by 0.2 billion pounds in June, driven by higher aircraft sales, Thursday's data showed.

In the April-to-June period, British exports to the United States fell by more than a quarter, reflecting how many manufacturers rushed to send their products across the Atlantic before Trump's first tariffs blitz in April.

($1 = 0.7364 pounds)

(Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)