Small firms see slide in exports ahead of Trump tariffs

Increased Export Volatility Ahead Of Tariffs

Only a fifth (21%) of SME exporters saw increased overseas sales in Q1 of 2025 More than a quarter (27%) said their exports had declined with over half (53%) seeing no change. Advanced orders fared no better, as 20% saw these rise while 28% reported a decline. The Trade Confidence Outlook, conducted by the BCC’s award-winning Insights Unit, is a survey of just over 1,800 UK SME exporters. It shows the percentage of SME exporters reporting incr…

Small firms see slide in exports ahead of Trump tariffs

A large number of small UK businesses suffered a decrease in overseas sales compared to those who saw an increase, a new survey has said, as President Donald Trump’s tariffs put firms on edge.  Heavy US tariffs on vehicles and aluminium have rattled dozens of UK firms while impending ten per cent tariffs on goods, which are set to come into effect in three months, could see trade plummet.  But new research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BC…