UK economy could be “vulnerable” following Trump inauguration, says Northamptonshire Lecturer

A lecturer at the University of Northamptonshire is warning that the UK economy could be “vulnerable” following the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Shortly after Trump was sworn in as the 47th President he vowed to “put America first” and says the “Golden Age of America begins now”.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on all imports into the United States, singling out Canada, Mexico, and China as countries that could face steeper measures.

'Tariffs would have a negative effect on the British economy'

David Waller, senior lecturer in American politics at the University of Northamptonshire, said: “The United States is our biggest single trading partner. We do more trade with Europe collectively, but in terms of an individual state, the United States is our largest trading partner.

“We have a relatively open economy, so we are potentially quite vulnerable to American tariffs and the question would be what level would those tariffs be.

“Trump has made it quite plain that he's prepared to use tariffs in a punitive way, in other words, if he doesn't like a country, he's going to raise tariffs more.

“Any tariffs imposed by the United States would have a negative effect on the British economy.

He added: “I think any business that's exporting will almost certainly be impacted and then of course, if tariffs effect factors such as inflation or costs in general, then we could see businesses raising prices.”

Trump's First Few Hours in Office

President Donald Trump on Monday said he was pardoning about 1500 supporters who have been charged in the January 6 2021, US Capitol attack.

He has directed the Attorney General to seek the dismissal of about 450 pending criminal cases tied to the riots.

The pardons were expected after Mr Trump's yearslong campaign to rewrite the history of the January 6 attack that left more than 100 police officers injured and threatened the peaceful transfer of power.

The scope of the clemency still comes as a massive blow to the Justice Department's effort to hold participants accountable over what has been described as one of the darkest days in American history.

Vice President JD Vance had said just days ago that people responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot "obviously" should not be pardoned.

President Donald Trump also signed an executive order directing the United States to again withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement, dealing a blow to worldwide efforts to combat global warming and once again distancing the US from its closest allies.

Mr Trump's action, hours after he was sworn in to a second term, echoed his directive in 2017, when he announced that the US would abandon the global Paris accord.

The pact is aimed at limiting long-term global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels or, failing that, keeping temperatures at least well below 2C above pre-industrial levels.