Intelligent Fin.tech Issue 33 | Page 44

R E G I O N A L R E V I E W

R E G I O N A L R E V I E W

US, New York Skyline

NORTH AMERICA

TRUMP’ S AMERICA FIRST TRADE POLICY: HOW UK SMES CAN REMAIN RESILIENT

There’ s been a whirlwind of news, threats and plans on potential US trade policy in recent months. Trump’ s America First Trade Policy is causing global ramifications. Vivek Savani, UK Country Manager at iBanFirst, discusses how UK SMEs can weather the storm and capitalise on new opportunities. fter months of uncertainty following
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President Trump’ s inauguration,‘ Liberation Day’ confirmed his America First stance will reshape international trade for the foreseeable future.
For UK-based SMEs, an increasingly volatile operational environment creates uncertainty and risk. As we’ ve seen, tariffs lead to currency instability, disrupted supply chains and inflationary pressures, all of which hinder international economic growth. So SMEs have to be prepared and able to adjust their strategies accordingly. If SMEs do not adapt, they risk facing deeper cashflow concerns and a shrinking customer base.
Among these developments, the UK has made its feelings clear: free and fair international trade is the preferred approach for economic growth. Our research shows that 43 % of Brits would support a trade war with the US, while two-thirds( 62 %) view Trump’ s presidency as detrimental to the UK economy. As the UK-US relationship evolves, now is a good time for SMEs to take stock of their market exposure and implement a proactive approach to minimise undue risk and protect their operations.
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