British manufacturers are turning their backs on exporting to the US after Donald Trump’s tariffs, writes Emily Hawkins.

The President unleashed a barrage of tariffs earlier this year – and now a survey from manufacturing trade body Make UK has shown that six in ten British firms believe volumes they ship to the US will be hit.

The group also slashed its growth forecast for manufacturing in 2026 from +1pc to -0.5pc – blamed on both a weak economy at home and uncertainty from US tariffs abroad.

Data this month showed exports to the US fell £2bn in April.

It was previously the second top destination for UK manufacturing exports, behind the EU.

Now firms prefer Asia, Make UK said.

Seamus Nevin, Make UK’s chief economist, said Labour needs to take “radical action to ensure companies can access the people they need to take advantage of a more competitive landscape”.

This comes as Ireland saw exports to the US increase over the opening quarter of 2025.

Goods exports alone jumped by 14.8%, or €13.5bn, as Irish businesses moved quickly to ship products abroad, particularly to the United States, ahead of anticipated tariff sanctions from Trump’s administration.