British trade officials were among the most vocal critics Saturday after President Trump announced a 15% universal tariff on all imports, replacing the 10% rate the UK had previously negotiated in a separate bilateral arrangement. The British Chamber of Commerce called the move damaging for trade, consumers, and global economic growth.
William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chamber of Commerce, said the tariff hike would be “bad for trade, bad for US consumers and businesses, and weaken global economic growth.” He said businesses on both sides of the Atlantic needed a period of clarity and certainty, not escalating uncertainty driven by shifting legal strategies. The comments reflected a broader frustration among trade-dependent economies worldwide.
Trump announced the new 15% rate on Truth Social just hours after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that his IEEPA-based tariffs were unconstitutional without congressional authorization. Pivoting to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, Trump declared the new levy effective immediately and defended it as legally sound. His administration said it would use the 150-day window the law provides to develop permanent tariff mechanisms.
Trump’s response to the Supreme Court ruling was unusually personal and combative. He called the decision “ridiculous” and “extraordinarily anti-American,” attacking majority justices as “fools and lapdogs” and describing his own nominees Barrett and Gorsuch as “an embarrassment to their families.” He praised dissenters Kavanaugh, Thomas, and Alito as the true defenders of American interests.
Studies show that approximately 90% of the $130 billion in tariffs collected to date has been paid by US businesses and consumers. Exemptions under the new 15% rate cover critical minerals, metals, pharmaceuticals, and USMCA-compliant imports from Canada and Mexico. Sector-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, and autos remain fully operative under separate legal authority.