US tariffs: Trade secretary won’t rule out cuts to digital services tax March 27, 2025 Jonathan Reynolds has refused to rule out cutting the digital services tax on major tech firms, amid the prospect of looming US trade tariffs. The business and trade secretary insisted the UK government was “committed to ensuring tech companies pay a fair amount of tax in the UK”, but added that the digital services tax [...]
US tariffs: Reynolds urges ‘cool heads’ over trade negotiations March 27, 2025 Jonathan Reynolds has said it is a time for “cool heads” as the UK engages with the US over tariff plans despite holding a “different set of views” on trade policy. It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK is not planning “at the moment” to introduce retaliatory tariffs on the US, after President [...]
Editor’s Interview: Charles Tyrwhitt founder – ‘No point whinging about the government’ March 24, 2025 The founder of Charles Tyrwhitt, Nick Wheeler, has told City PM that there’s “no point whinging about what the government are doing or not doing, because they’re not going to change,” adding “I’ve got to get on and make my own decisions.” His comments came during an interview with City PM in which he lamented [...]
Poppy Gustafsson: UK can be ‘safe haven’ amid Trump turbulence March 20, 2025 The UK can be a beacon of stability to investors and businesses in a world where geopolitical tensions, and “populism and protectionism” are on the rise, the minister for investment has said. Citing the government’s large majority and internationalist outlook, Baroness Gustafsson trumpeted the UK’s offer of long-term certainty to investors, branding the country a [...]
Do we need to rethink Brexit’s impact on UK-EU trade? March 20, 2025 With the weekend approaching, allow me to furnish you with a classic conversation starter for the pub or a dinner party; have you heard that the OBR might have overstated the impact of Brexit on the UK’s trade with the EU? In my experience this kind of line serves as a perfect icebreaker or an [...]
UK needs new settlement with EU, business group boss urges March 20, 2025 The UK’s businesses need a new settlement with the EU, the boss of one of the biggest business groups is urging. Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), is calling for growth-driven improvements to the UK-EU relationship. It comes ahead of the organisation’s 2025 Driving International Trade Conference in central London, on [...]
Jonathan Reynolds in Washington for first in-person trade talks March 18, 2025 Jonathan Reynolds is in Washington DC for the first in-person trade talks under President Donald Trump’s administration. The business and trade secretary is in the US capital today for talks which officials said were aimed at strengthening UK-US ties and to discuss a wider economic deal. Reynolds will meet US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and [...]
Steel tariffs: US trade policy under Trump ‘challenging’, Reynolds admits March 13, 2025 The US tariff policy under President Donald Trump is proving “challenging” for Britain, the business and trade secretary has admitted. Jonathan Reynolds is in discussions with his US counterparts over Trump’s new 25 per cent tariff regime on steel and aluminium imports – but has not secured an exemption for the UK. It comes after [...]
Tariffs: Starmer ‘disappointed’ by Trump move and ‘all options on table’ March 12, 2025 The Prime Minister has said he is “disappointed” by US President Donald Trump’s move to bring in 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, including from the UK. Sir Keir Starmer has indicated the UK would keep open the option of retaliatory measures, emphasising that “we will keep all options on the table”. [...]
Clarkson: Shipping giant shrugs off uncertainty to report higher profit March 10, 2025 Clarkson has reported robust preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 2024, despite a challenging global shipping environment. The company, the world’s leading provider of integrated shipping services, offers broking, financial, support, and research services to clients worldwide. It reported revenue of £661.4m, up from £639.4m in 2023. Underlying profit before taxation rose six [...]
