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UK car sales to US rise following tariff deal | UK car sales to US rise following tariff deal |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Sales of British-made cars to the US rose in July following the introduction of the UK-US tariff deal. | Sales of British-made cars to the US rose in July following the introduction of the UK-US tariff deal. |
The 6.8% rise follows three months in a row of falling sales, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). | The 6.8% rise follows three months in a row of falling sales, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). |
US President Donald Trump hiked import taxes on UK cars from 2.5% to 27.5%, which sent shockwaves through the industry, but this was then lowered to 10% and came into force at the end of June. | |
The SMMT said July's figures "illustrate the impact of this deal", though it added that UK car manufacturing was generally struggling. | The SMMT said July's figures "illustrate the impact of this deal", though it added that UK car manufacturing was generally struggling. |
"The US remains the largest single national market for British-built cars, underscoring the importance of the UK-US trade deal," the SMMT said. | "The US remains the largest single national market for British-built cars, underscoring the importance of the UK-US trade deal," the SMMT said. |
The tariff cut from 27.5% to 10% only applies to the first 100,000 cars sent across the Atlantic, which is about the number of cars the UK exported to the US last year. | |
Any additional car imports above that number will be taxed at 27.5%, according to the agreement. | |
The US represented 18.1% of all UK car exports for July, while the European Union is a much bigger market for car makers, totalling 45.6% of exports. | The US represented 18.1% of all UK car exports for July, while the European Union is a much bigger market for car makers, totalling 45.6% of exports. |
Colleen McHugh, chief investment officer at investment firm Wealthify, said the US was "an important market for British-built cars". | |
"In particular, it is a key market for premium brands like Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)." | "In particular, it is a key market for premium brands like Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)." |
JLR paused shipments to the US in April after the initial higher tariffs were announced, before resuming them a month later. | JLR paused shipments to the US in April after the initial higher tariffs were announced, before resuming them a month later. |
Overall, UK car manufacturing rose rose for the second consecutive month in July, due to rises in both domestic sales and exports. | Overall, UK car manufacturing rose rose for the second consecutive month in July, due to rises in both domestic sales and exports. |
However, overall vehicle output for the year to date is down 11.7%, a figure which includes both cars and commercial vehicles. Last month, car making in the UK fell to its lowest level since 1953. | |
Experts say the slump has been caused by a combination of higher UK labour costs, increased competition from overseas, and Brexit. | Experts say the slump has been caused by a combination of higher UK labour costs, increased competition from overseas, and Brexit. |
Commenting on July's numbers, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: "It remains a turbulent time for automotive manufacturing, with consumer confidence weak, trade flows volatile and massive investment in new technologies underway both here and abroad. | Commenting on July's numbers, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: "It remains a turbulent time for automotive manufacturing, with consumer confidence weak, trade flows volatile and massive investment in new technologies underway both here and abroad. |
"Given this backdrop, another month of growing car output is good news." | "Given this backdrop, another month of growing car output is good news." |