The industry has urged caution over the US/UK trade deal announced this week until details about how it facilitates growth in the sector are unveiled.
There was a collective sigh of relief across many industries after negotiations with the US government led to import taxes on cars and car parts being cut to 10% from 27.5% and tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the US reduced to zero.
In return, the UK has opened up the British market for some US beef.
However, the deal still leaves a 10% duty in place on most goods from the UK.
Nichola Mallon, head of trade and devolved policy at Logistics UK, said the haulage industry welcomed the deal in principle: “The logistics sector will be intrinsic to delivering the boost to trade that has been promised from the US/ UK trade deal – our members will welcome the fact that a deal has been negotiated,” she said.
“We will be scrutinising the detail of the agreement in the coming weeks to identify the opportunities for growth that the deal should bring.
“After so much discussion and uncertainty around our trading relationship with the US, our members will appreciate the clarity and greater certainty that the agreement should provide.
“Businesses have been unsettled by the lack of clarity and consistency provided for traders since tariffs were announced: hopefully the agreement will lead to a period of greater stability.”
Figures showed 6.8% of transport and storage businesses exporting to the US had experienced a drop in demand last month in the face of the new tariffs imposed by president Donald Trump.
ParcelHero said it was concerned that the majority of SME exporters did not gain anything from the negotiated deal.
David Jinks, head of consumer research, said: “For many of the UK’s smaller exporters to the US, the devil is in the detail.
“This new US trade deal simply doesn’t help most of them. Last year, UK goods exports to the US were worth £59.3bn – a significant fall of £2.3bn compared to 2023, according to the latest government figures.”
He added: “While the tariff deal is good news for the UK’s automotive, aerospace and steel giants, it’s hardly the ‘full and comprehensive’ deal that president Trump is touting it to be.
“The fact remains that many UK exports, particularly those produced, sold and delivered by smaller companies rather than major industries, are still being crippled by the new 10% basic US tariff.”
