Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs marked a significant moment, referred to by the President as a “day of liberation” from international trade practices he criticized as unfair. In their reaction, various news outlets in the UK provided distinct perspectives on the impact of these measures.
The Guardian’s front page highlighted the President’s action by announcing “Trump hits UK with 10% tariffs as US ignites global trade war,” showing the President visibly presenting a schedule of what are termed “discounted” rates compared to what other nations allegedly charge the US.
The Times took a slightly different approach with their headline “Trump piles on the tariffs,” noting that the EU would face a higher tariff of 20%, and set a start date for these changes on Saturday.
The i newspaper focused on the broader implications, headlining their story with “Trump triggers $1 trillion global trade war – in threat to UK jobs and wages,” which emphasizes concerns over the potential economic fallout for UK growth and global trade.
The Daily Mail described the situation with grim tones, calling it a “tariff war on ‘foreign scavengers’” and labeling Trump’s announcement as a “bombshell yet often rambling announcement.”
The Daily Mirror’s take was more confrontational, with the headline “Trading blows” and a warning that targeted nations are “poised to retaliate” in what it describes as a period of “economic war.”
The Telegraph covered the story with a headline that emphasizes the strength of Trump’s action: “Trump unleashes tariffs” and frames it as a “declaration of economic independence.”
In a more Brexit-focused view, the Daily Express used the headline “Brexit Britain escapes worst of Trump tariffs pain,” highlighting the relative lightness of the UK burden under the circumstances, but also referencing the economic implications of leaving the EU.
Metro shifted the focus slightly, mentioning the “Heathrow ‘had two fire warnings’” as well as memorializing actor Val Kilmer, who passed away the previous day.
Lastly, the Financial Times provided a more diplomatic angle with their main story, “UK plan for joint European fund to help finance continent’s rearmament,” and also touched on potential business moves by Trump, such as possibly selling his share in Truth Social and a possible US takeover of TikTok.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/apr/03/donald-trump-us-global-trade-tariffs-newspaper-front-pages
