Trump’s Tariffs: UK Companies Facing the Heat in Cars, Food, and Beyond

Posted on April 4, 2025

President Trump’s latest trade bombshell—a 25% tariff on vehicles (effective April 3), 25% on steel and aluminum (mid-March), and a 10% blanket tariff on all UK goods (April 5)—is hitting the UK where it hurts. With £57 billion in annual exports to the US, our top single-country market, this isn’t just about cars; it’s shaking up food, drink, steel, and more. Here’s a rundown of the UK companies caught in the crossfire, from Range Rovers to whisky distilleries, and what it means for their bottom line.

Automotive Giants (25% Vehicle Tariff)

The UK’s £6.4 billion car exports to the US are taking a direct hit—every vehicle shipped faces a 25% price jump.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR): Our biggest carmaker, pumping out 400,000+ Range Rovers, Defenders, and Jaguars from Solihull and Halewood. A £100,000 Range Rover could climb to £125,000 Stateside.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (BMW Group): Goodwood’s luxury icons—Phantom, Cullinan—see the US snap up 35-40% of their 2,000-2,500 yearly sales. A £350,000 Cullinan? Try £437,500.

Aston Martin Lagonda: Gaydon and St Athan’s DBX and DB12 (30% of 1,500-2,000 sales to the US) could jump from £200,000 to £250,000.

McLaren Automotive: Woking’s 750S supercars (35% of 1,500 sales to the US) might rise from £300,000 to £375,000.

Mini (BMW Group): Oxford-built Coopers could go from £30,000 to £37,500 for US buyers.

Morgan Motor Company: Malvern’s handcrafted Plus Four might leap from £100,000 to £125,000.

Lotus Cars (Geely): Norfolk’s Emira, growing in the US, could hit £125,000 from £100,000

Food and Drink Favourites (10% Baseline Tariff)

The £1.6 billion food and drink sector—third-largest US export market—faces a 10% tariff, nudging up costs for these household names.

Diageo: Johnnie Walker and Guinness maker with £1 billion+ in US spirit sales. A 10% tariff could dent its post-2024 recovery.

Scotch Whisky Association Members (e.g., Kilchoman, Glenfiddich – William Grant & Sons): £971 million in US whisky sales. A £50 bottle might add £5—“a huge blow,” says Kilchoman’s Anthony Wills.

Salmon Scotland Members (e.g., Mowi Scotland, Scottish Sea Farms): 25% of £500 million food exports heads Stateside. Salmon could rise £2-£3 per kg, though demand might hold, per CEO Tavish Scott.

Associated British Foods (ABF): Twinings tea (460 million US cups yearly) might see slight price hikes.

United Biscuits (Pladis): McVitie’s biscuits (436 million consumed in the US) could add pennies per pack.

Premier Foods: Mr Kipling cakes and Bisto gravy face minor cost bumps in niche US sales.

Arla Foods UK: Lurpak and cheeses could see £1-£2 per kg added for US-bound premium lines.

Steel and Aluminum Stalwarts (25% Tariff)

The £1.2 billion steel and aluminum export market to the US braces for a 25% tariff, threatening jobs and margins.

Tata Steel UK: Port Talbot’s steel could lose 20% of US demand, hitting Welsh workers hard.

British Steel: Scunthorpe’s output faces cancelled orders as prices soar.

Liberty Steel Group: Rotherham’s specialty steels risk further strain under the tariff.

Novelis UK (Hindalco): Aluminum for cans and more could lose edge in the US market.

Other Big Names (10% Baseline Tariff)

The £60 billion in broader UK exports to the US touches these firms too.

Rolls-Royce Holdings: Derby’s aerospace engines (£3 billion to the US) face a £300 million cost hike at 10%.

AstraZeneca: Cambridge’s £2.5 billion in US drug exports could add £250 million, with worse if pharma hits 25%.

Burberry Group: Luxury coats and gear (£3.5 billion sector) might add £50-£100 per item.

Tomoe Valve (Wales): Newport’s £1.2 million US valve order gets a 10% bump—manageable, says finance director Denise Cole.

Nomadic Watches (Northern Ireland): Belfast’s watches (22% US sales) shift focus homeward, per founder Peter McAuley.

What’s at Stake?

Luxury brands like Rolls-Royce or Scotch makers might pass costs to wealthy US buyers, but mass-market players (Mini, biscuits) could lose sales or eat losses. Supply chain firms—steel, parts—risk shrinking orders, endangering 186,000 auto jobs and thousands more in steel and food (SMMT, unions). Smaller outfits may struggle most, lacking wiggle room. It’s a £22 billion export hit and 0.8% GDP dent, per trade experts—