Trump’s America-first tariffs just killed Britain’s book exports to the US, forcing bookseller Waterstones to completely halt shipments as UK businesses face an economic gut-punch from the 25% car and 10% goods tax.
At a Glance
- Waterstones has suspended all book deliveries to the US due to Trump’s new 10% tariff on British goods
- Jaguar Land Rover also halted US shipments after facing a crushing 25% import tariff on vehicles
- UK’s FTSE 100 index has crashed to a one-year low amid market panic over the tariffs
- The Starmer government is scrambling to revise electric vehicle policies to protect manufacturers
- Even M&S’s planned “Percy Pig” US launch at Target stores is now threatened by the tariffs
America First, British Books Last
So this is what putting America first looks like? Donald Trump’s administration has effectively told British bookworms in America they can go pound sand. Waterstones, one of the UK’s largest booksellers, has been forced to completely halt shipments to the United States thanks to Trump’s new tariffs that slap a 10% tax on imported British goods.
Nothing says “America First” quite like making it harder for Americans to read British literature. The company had to post a notice to customers explaining they couldn’t fulfill American orders while they figure out how to navigate this tariff nightmare.
“We regret that we are currently unable to accept or ship orders to the US, while we establish options to be compliant with the new tariffs.” – Waterstones
The company’s website initially displayed the shipping suspension notice, though it has since been removed. Blackwell’s, another bookseller owned by Waterstones, posted a similar notice. The irony here is thick enough to choke on – Waterstones itself is owned by a US investment group, Elliott Investment Management.
So essentially, American-owned businesses are being punished by American tariffs for shipping British products to American customers. If that makes sense to you, congratulations – you’ve lost your mind just like our trade policy.
British Cars and Candy Crushed by Tariffs
It’s not just books getting hit by this economic sledgehammer. Jaguar Land Rover, an iconic British automotive manufacturer, has completely suspended shipments to the US market after being slapped with a staggering 25% import tariff on foreign vehicles. Nothing says “protecting American jobs” like making it impossible for foreign companies to compete fairly in our market. The financial markets have responded to this trade brilliance with absolute panic – the UK’s FTSE 100 index has plummeted to its lowest point in a year.
Even Percy Pig is in trouble, folks. Yes, you read that correctly. M&S had planned to introduce their popular “Percy Pig” sweets in Target stores across America as what their chairman Archie Norman called a “gift to America.” But now, thanks to these tariffs, even candy isn’t safe from government overreach. Norman has stated that with these new tariffs, “we might have to change our minds” about the US expansion. Imagine being the administration that killed Percy Pig before he even made it to American shores.
UK Government Scrambles While Markets Tumble
While Trump’s administration flexes its protectionist muscles, the UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to mitigate the damage. They’re promising reforms to support manufacturers hit by these tariffs, including relaxing fines for companies not selling enough electric vehicles and creating exemptions for supercar firms. It’s a classic case of one government implementing destructive policies while another government frantically tries to create workarounds to protect their industries and jobs.
What’s truly astounding is watching the market reaction to all this. Global stock indices are in freefall, with traders panicking about the prospect of trade wars and economic retaliation. The FTSE 100’s dramatic drop is just one indicator of the widespread concern these tariffs have generated. All this while the administration characterizes the tariffs as “medicine” for the economy. If this is medicine, it’s the kind that comes with a warning label longer than the Constitution about potentially fatal side effects.
The simple truth is that tariffs are taxes on American consumers. When we place tariffs on foreign goods, it’s not the foreign countries that pay – it’s American citizens who end up footing the bill through higher prices. So while this might play well politically with certain audiences, the economic reality is that American readers, car buyers, and even candy lovers will be the ones ultimately paying for these “America First” policies. When did “America First” start meaning “Americans Pay More”?
