How will Trump tariffs affect us then?

[DontAsk]

No demands for any tariff on any of them. They haven't implemented it yet!

Yes they have.

What value were the shipments? There may still be a $800 free minimise, but it's not totally clear.

 

[2JP]

Yes they have.

What value were the shipments? There may still be a $800 free minimise, but it's not totally clear.

Thousands of $ worth. So you have been charged, yes? What kind of freight?

 

[DontAsk]

Obviously my customer was charged, not me. DHL.

 

[2JP]

Obviously my customer was charged, not me. DHL.

It was not at all obvious you were not the importer. You are sure they were charged 10%?

 

[DontAsk]

Yes, plus admin fees.

 

[2JP]

News today that DHL Express is suspending B2C > $800 to USA for now. B2B and < $800 apparently still going ahead. Shipments < $800 apparently to be tariffed from 2nd May.

 

[2JP]

DHL today announced the end of this suspension now after "constructive dialogue with US Customs". No details have been announced on what was discussed. 10p bet they have just said wave it through but not to tell the president. Apparently, 2nd May sees package value under $800 hit by the tariffs. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Gyumri]

I can think of an easy way to mitigate that. The US is just one market. We could join a market that is even larger than the US and increase our exports to there. If only there was such a market somewhere, preferably nearby, that we could join.

Er..how about the EU, forrmerly the UK's nearest and largest trading partner which the UK has recently said it doesn't need? One cannot even export cheese to the EU but we are told we must now look to China and Australia to forge new markets.

That is one definition of insanity never mind about US tariffs.

 

[DontAsk]

I don't have any more problem exporting to the EU than anywhere else in the world, but then I have a truly global customer base and never relied upon things being easy.

 

[japancool]

Er..how about the EU, forrmerly the UK's nearest and largest trading partner which the UK has recently said it doesn't need? One cannot even export cheese to the EU but we are told we must now look to China and Australia to forge new markets.

Gosh, if only I had thought of that when I said "If only there was such a market somewhere, preferably nearby, that we could join.".

 

[FreddyG]

Quite odd how so many people buy Heinz ketchup, considering it's disgusting.
KFC really isn't "highly carcinogenic", and (though I've not had it for years) it's certainly not revolting.

I find it revolting (on the one occasion I tried it).
And yes, deep frying is carcinogenic for several good reasons. Look it up!

You can't differentiate between pure water and any UK beer?
The crap that some people spout on here is quite amazing.

It tastes like tap water that has gone off. Compare it to any craft beer or a decent Pilsner - I suggest Bitburger Pils.

How many economists predicted the crash in 2008 or any other major event?

Well, there was me. Then there were Peter Schiff, Jim Rickards, Jeremy Grantham, Dean Baker, Fred Harrison, Raghuram Rajan, Stephen Roach, William White, Meredith Whitney, Gary Shilling, Marc Faber, Brooksley Born and several who came onto the Today Programme on R4, starting around 2005 onwards. They are just the ones who sprang into my mind - I am very sure that there were many, many more!

What you heard was the gibbering of bankers and politicians. They are not economists. They are the greesy-pole-climbers who had and still have a vested interest in telling you that all is fine. Well, it ain't! It ain't even close to fine!

Unskilled and semi-skilled labour has seen their wages buy 20% less since 2010. i.e. those on the modal wage who find that their £25k of today buys 20% less than the £19,500 they got in 2010. (ONS and BoE figures - again, not mine!)

In other words, society is splitting right down the middle, both here and in the US and also in many other affluent countries. On the one side we have the rich with assets that increase in nominal value and in absolute value. On the other side, we have the less well-off with falling wages, rising rents, no assets worth tinker's cuss and having to rely on the purchasing power of the currency remaining stable.

Sadly, the rich and the powerful only listen to the poor and the disenfranchised when they start throwing things and setting fire to policemen!

We are heading into something far worse than the GFC right now. Somehing that will cripple the very fabric of society. The US is over $130 trillion in debt and this figure is rising every year (Congressional Budget Office figures - not mine!) That is a fiscal time bomb.

And the Orange comedy act, claiming to be in charge of Retardistan, is only making matters worse.

For those of us who can cook anything they choose if they can buy the ingredients it is not expensive to cook from scratch. For those brought up in families where nothing was ever cooked from scratch and who may have only a microwave to cook in, and are on a very low income, it is not so easy.

You can buy a used stand-alone cooker with oven, grill and four halogen plates at your local charity shop for the price of a microwave. And they will deliver the thing!

 

[Newchodge]

I find it revolting (on the one occasion I tried it).
And yes, deep frying is carcinogenic for several good reasons. Look it up!

It tastes like tap water that has gone off. Compare it to any craft beer or a decent Pilsner - I suggest Bitburger Pils.

Well, there was me. Then there were Peter Schiff, Jim Rickards, Jeremy Grantham, Dean Baker, Fred Harrison, Raghuram Rajan, Stephen Roach, William White, Meredith Whitney, Gary Shilling, Marc Faber, Brooksley Born and several who came onto the Today Programme on R4, starting around 2005 onwards. They are just the ones who sprang into my mind - I am very sure that there were many, many more!

What you heard was the gibbering of bankers and politicians. They are not economists. They are the greesy-pole-climbers who had and still have a vested interest in telling you that all is fine. Well, it ain't! It ain't even close to fine!

Unskilled and semi-skilled labour has seen their wages buy 20% less since 2010. i.e. those on the modal wage who find that their £25k of today buys 20% less than the £19,500 they got in 2010. (ONS and BoE figures - again, not mine!)

In other words, society is splitting right down the middle, both here and in the US and also in many other affluent countries. On the one side we have the rich with assets that increase in nominal value and in absolute value. On the other side, we have the less well-off with falling wages, rising rents, no assets worth tinker's cuss and having to rely on the purchasing power of the currency remaining stable.

Sadly, the rich and the powerful only listen to the poor and the disenfranchised when they start throwing things and setting fire to policemen!

We are heading into something far worse than the GFC right now. Somehing that will cripple the very fabric of society. The US is over $130 trillion in debt and this figure is rising every year (Congressional Budget Office figures - not mine!) That is a fiscal time bomb.

And the Orange comedy act, claiming to be in charge of Retardistan, is only making matters worse.


You can buy a used stand-alone cooker with oven, grill and four halogen plates at your local charity shop for the price of a microwave. And they will deliver the thing!

None of the charity shops round here will accept electrical items for sale. And if you are living on state benefits you do not have enough money to buy a microwave.

 

[2JP]

Does anyone stay on topic on this forum?

 

[Newchodge]

Does anyone stay on topic on this forum?

I know, the weather has been brilliant today.

 

[DontAsk]

Well, they're now blocked by US Trade Court and, if the appeal is unsuccessful, any tariffs paid will be refunded with interest.

 

[2JP]

Well, they're now blocked by US Trade Court and, if the appeal is unsuccessful, any tariffs paid will be refunded with interest.

Yes, it's a farce. A war is ongoing between the US judiciary and the US Executive Office. It may be because part of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill apparently contains a technicality where he can ensure he is exempt from contempt of court. This essentially would mean he would be above the law and could ignore any judge. The bill has not yet passed. The tariffs are in place, as far as we are aware, and the appeal proceedings are, I guess, the next thing to look out for. It has been suggested that the tariffs should be removed within 10days because of the judicial ruling but perhaps this is not so if the appeal is lodged in time. Much is unclear, and the UK government is doing absolutely nothing to help businesses understand as far as I am aware.

 

[Newchodge]

Yes, it's a farce. A war is ongoing between the US judiciary and the US Executive Office. It may be because part of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill apparently contains a technicality where he can ensure he is exempt from contempt of court. This essentially would mean he would be above the law and could ignore any judge. The bill has not yet passed. The tariffs are in place, as far as we are aware, and the appeal proceedings are, I guess, the next thing to look out for. It has been suggested that the tariffs should be removed within 10days because of the judicial ruling but perhaps this is not so if the appeal is lodged in time. Much is unclear, and the UK government is doing absolutely nothing to help businesses understand as far as I am aware.

Could you explain exatly what the UK government could do to help businesses understand? Trump is a loose cannon. He declares this that and the othr will happen, then changes his mind. The US court has declared some of the things he has done to be illegal. That decision in being appealed. How can the UK government possibly, in the midst of that chaos, help businesses understand, when the perpetrator of this chaos, Trump, does not understand?

 

[2JP]

Could you explain exatly what the UK government could do to help businesses understand? Trump is a loose cannon. He declares this that and the othr will happen, then changes his mind. The US court has declared some of the things he has done to be illegal. That decision in being appealed. How can the UK government possibly, in the midst of that chaos, help businesses understand, when the perpetrator of this chaos, Trump, does not understand?

I'm not talking about explaining why certain decisions are being taken. I am talking about explaining what the current state is and how it affects UK exporters and the various goods. They could use their advice from their international legal advisers to tell us exactly what the current situation is. Is what I have written above correct? Will the 10% tariff have to be removed in 10days, for example? Or does it depend on whether an appeal is lodged? That is what they could do; give us the current state of play... from experts. Remember experts? You know, the qualified, the competent? Businesses planning would benefit from up to date information.

 

[Newchodge]

I'm not talking about explaining why certain decisions are being taken. I am talking about explaining what the current state is and how it affects UK exporters and the various goods. They could use their advice from their international legal advisers to tell us exactly what the current situation is. Is what I have written above correct? Will the 10% tariff have to be removed in 10days, for example? Or does it depend on whether an appeal is lodged? That is what they could do; give us the current state of play... from experts. Remember experts? You know, the qualified, the competent? Businesses planning would benefit from up to date information.

Yesterday the 10% tariff had ro be removed in 10 days. Today it does not have to be removed in 10 days. Is that helpful?

 

[2JP]

Yesterday the 10% tariff had ro be removed in 10 days. Today it does not have to be removed in 10 days. Is that helpful?

I did not realise you were an official UK government spokesperson. I assumed you were just someone who relied on hack journalists for information, like all the other small businesses in the UK are forced to rely on.

 

[MarkOnline]

I did not realise you were an official UK government spokesperson. I assumed you were just someone who relied on hack journalists for information, like all the other small businesses in the UK are forced to rely on.

You could go and find reliable sources yourself, I agree we are spoon fed nonsense by the legacy media in this country. However it is your job as a grown up and responsible business owner to figure stuff out for yourself sometimes. Good luck with your search. ps I have found the BBC coverage of anything to be sparse with truth if it affects, in a negative way, their political narrative.

 

[JPMiddleton]

The de minimis exemption removal is going to have a much bigger impact on trade, and as far as I can tell, is really not getting the same hype and publicity.

The de minimis exemption is ending: Is your business ready? - Avalara

The U.S. is ending duty-free treatment for low-value shipments originating in all countries. Businesses will need to apply the proper HTS code and rate of duty to affected imports starting August 29, 2025.

www.avalara.com

"De minimis ends for all countries on August 29, 2025. Imported goods valued at or under $800 will be subject to all applicable duties as of that date."

So everything sent to the US from the UK is now going to have the 10% tariff applied after August 29th, and not just parcels of $800 or more.

We are bracing for a significant drop in US sales, much like that which happened for (us) for 2/3 days after the tariffs themselves were announced, but longer term.

Our plan is to use DDP for larger shipments, not sure about those with RM yet. We are waiting to hear if they are doing DDP to the US.

 

[FreddyG]

Does anyone stay on topic on this forum?

OK, I'll play!

My guess is that the costs will be distributed up and down the supply chain. The producer will be less inclined to raise prices than they may have under other circumstances. The wholesaler and retailer will have to trim margins slightly, and of course, the retailer will charge a bit more.

Everyone will be a bit poorer, profits will be lower, and a new stability will be found. Over time, old margins and profits will have to return. The speed and levels will depend on the price elasticity of demand for the goods and/or services in question.

Because of the silly games being played by the Orange TACO, the US is going to drift into a recession anyway - tariffs will not help that whole scenario one bit!

One outcome is certain. Tariffs will feed inflation and that will cause more wealth to percolate upwards from the poor to the rich.

The true purchasing power of the dollar is running at around 8%. The BLS reports 2.7% and long-term inflation at 3.3%. The manipulation of the inflation figures (and many other statistics) means that such poor-man's benchmarks as minimum wage, social security, state pensions, etc., are indexed-linked to a totally bogus low number, thereby making the poor poorer.

The result is that the true cost of unskilled labour is today one-quarter of the true value in 1970, when measured in assets and day-to-day costs.

 

[Mark T Jones]

OK, I'll play!

My guess is that the costs will be distributed up and down the supply chain. The producer will be less inclined to raise prices than they may have under other circumstances. The wholesaler and retailer will have to trim margins slightly, and of course, the retailer will charge a bit more.

Everyone will be a bit poorer, profits will be lower, and a new stability will be found. Over time, old margins and profits will have to return. The speed and levels will depend on the price elasticity of demand for the goods and/or services in question.

Because of the silly games being played by the Orange TACO, the US is going to drift into a recession anyway - tariffs will not help that whole scenario one bit!

One outcome is certain. Tariffs will feed inflation and that will cause more wealth to percolate upwards from the poor to the rich.

The true purchasing power of the dollar is running at around 8%. The BLS reports 2.7% and long-term inflation at 3.3%. The manipulation of the inflation figures (and many other statistics) means that such poor-man's benchmarks as minimum wage, social security, state pensions, etc., are indexed-linked to a totally bogus low number, thereby making the poor poorer.

The result is that the true cost of unskilled labour is today one-quarter of the true value in 1970, when measured in assets and day-to-day costs.

I saw an interesting article about Switzerland saying that in their case, 100% of tariffs will be passed directly to the consumer.

They have built their economy in niched goods, either luxury- eg watches, or necessity - EG pharma.

Strategic or lucky?

 

[FreddyG]

I saw an interesting article about Switzerland saying that in their case, 100% of tariffs will be passed directly to the consumer.

Swiss Pill Man: I have a pill here that will stop your left leg from falling off next Tuesday. It costs $100.
American Patient: I'll take it!
(Two weeks later)
Swiss Pill Man: Sorry, it now costs $1000. That's $100 for the pills that cost us $5 to make, plus another $100 in import tariffs.
American Patient: That's $200 and not one thousand! Why are you charging me an extra $800?
Swiss Pill Man: That's the new "Voting for that Dumb-F, Trump" penalty that we are imposing!
American Patient: That's daylight robbery! Why are you doing that to us?
Swiss Pill Man: Because we can!

Strategic or lucky?

Yes!

 

[Tornado220]

No idea where you are but it will affect you. Higher tariffs = less sold from UK = less profit for small businesses in UK = lower employment/wages and less tax revenue. Less tax revenue means pressure to increase tax percentage for all, including you.

I'm not having any issues exporting to the USA, they don't seem too bothered by the 10% extra they get charged as they are in most cases earning more

 

[JPMiddleton]

I'm not having any issues exporting to the USA, they don't seem too bothered by the 10% extra they get charged as they are in most cases earning more

Are you shipping items under the $800 threshold? Which is about to get abolished.

 

[Sco]

Hi all, sorry if this has been answered elsewhere, I quickly scanned thread and haven't seen anything.

Royal Mail has emailed me about the de minimis removal. In particular it says:

"If you ship goods to the USA and currently complete a customs declaration, we understand the following changes will apply on 29 August 2025:

• The duty-free threshold (‘de minimis’) of $800 will be removed and replaced by tariffs (duties).
• Senders in the UK will have to calculate, collect (or account for) duties at the point of sale. The duties are payable to US Customs in advance of items entering the USA.

Collecting the duties at point of sale is fine, I already do that with EU IOSS. But does anyone know how to pay these to US Customs before the items enter the US? Is there a really obvious system I'm missing?

 

[LPB 123]

Hi all, sorry if this has been answered elsewhere, I quickly scanned thread and haven't seen anything.

Royal Mail has emailed me about the de minimis removal. In particular it says:

"If you ship goods to the USA and currently complete a customs declaration, we understand the following changes will apply on 29 August 2025:

• The duty-free threshold (‘de minimis’) of $800 will be removed and replaced by tariffs (duties).
• Senders in the UK will have to calculate, collect (or account for) duties at the point of sale. The duties are payable to US Customs in advance of items entering the USA.

Collecting the duties at point of sale is fine, I already do that with EU IOSS. But does anyone know how to pay these to US Customs before the items enter the US? Is there a really obvious system I'm missing?

They are adding USA to the MPR service code so orders can be shipped DDP. We haven't been advised of prices on this yet.