The UK has signed a landmark trade agreement with the GCC, set to boost the British economy by over €4 billion annually. The deal eliminates 93% of GCC tariffs on UK goods, benefiting exports and services, and is hailed as a major win for growth and jobs.
The UK secures a trade deal with six Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) worth £3.7bn, removing £580m in annual tariffs, aiming to boost exports, jobs, and economic growth, despite criticisms over human rights and labour protections.
British exports to the US dropped by £800 million (14%) in April 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by declines in car and pharmaceutical exports despite a UK-US trade agreement capping tariffs at 10%. President Trump removed tariffs on Scottish whisky, offering relief to an industry accounting for $1.2 billion in annual US sales. The US remains the UK's largest goods export partner.
