By It didn’t take long. Just months into Donald Trump’s second term, the United States has reimposed sweeping tariffs on steel, electric vehicle parts, and clean energy technologies—including those from the UK. Framed as a move to protect American jobs and restore “economic sovereignty,” it’s déjà vu for anyone who remembers the chaos of the last trade war. But this time, the stakes are even higher.
For the UK, already navigating a fragile post-Brexit trading environment, these tariffs land like a hammer. Our steel producers are squeezed. Midlands carmakers are suddenly less competitive. And just as Britain began to position itself as a leader in green innovation, tariffs on clean tech exports pull the rug out from under emerging industries.
Yet these are not just economic tremors—they’re ideological ones. Trump’s tariffs are not just about trade; they are an explicit attack on the global consensus that markets, rules, and cooperation are better than nationalism, unilateralism, and protectionism. If the UK Government wants to protect its economy, it must first confront a more existential question: what does it mean to defend globalisation in a world that is turning against it?
The Globalisation We Had Is Gone
For decades, globalisation was sold as a tide that lifted all boats. But that story was never true for everyone. Deindustrialised towns, rising inequality, and the erosion of democratic control fuelled a backlash. And now, from Washington to Warsaw, right-wing populism is rewriting the rules of international engagement.
The UK’s departure from the EU was one chapter in that story. Trump’s tariffs are another. What we’re witnessing is the crumbling of a system that was never as stable or as fair as its champions claimed. And yet, throwing up walls—or pretending we can simply trade with “old friends” while ignoring new realities—is not the answer.
Time for a New Global Strategy
The UK’s response must be bold, not nostalgic. First, we must stop treating trade as an abstract or purely economic issue. It is political. It is strategic. And it is personal for workers and communities on the sharp edge of change.
The government should prioritise building alliances with countries committed to open, fair, and green trade. That means not only reinforcing ties with the EU, but also building stronger links with middle powers like South Korea, Chile, Kenya, and Indonesia—nations that understand that multilateralism is not dead, but in need of renewal.
Second, we must invest at home in a way that makes globalisation work for everyone. That means a serious industrial strategy, regional investment, and a commitment to green reindustrialisation. If we want people to believe in open markets, we have to show them the benefits—secure jobs, clean energy, and community wealth.
Third, the UK must take a leading role in reforming international institutions. The World Trade Organization is broken. But walking away—like Trump wants to—is not leadership. Britain should push for new trade rules that prioritise climate justice, labour rights, and democratic accountability.
Reclaiming the Idea of Globalisation
The old model of globalisation—unregulated, extractive, and indifferent to inequality—is rightly under fire. But a new model is possible. One where trade is rooted in solidarity, sustainability, and human rights. One where smaller nations like ours can still play a big role in shaping global norms.
Trump’s tariffs are a provocation. But they are also an opportunity—for Britain to step forward as a champion of cooperative, progressive global values at a time when they are under threat.
If we’re brave enough, we can help build a globalisation that works—for workers, for the planet, and for the future.
This article has been written by Kirat Raj Singh.