UK exports to the United States improved again last month but remained below pre-tariff levels as firms continue to recover from disruption to trade.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that exports to the United States rose by £0.8 billion to £4.7 billion in July.
This marked the highest level since March, before U.S. President Trump’s administration announced its major tariffs programme.
Exports remained significantly below the £6.1 billion peak of exports prior to the new tariff rules after firms shipped goods to the US in large numbers in preparation for the shake-up.
Meanwhile, imports to the UK from the United States slipped by £0.5 billion to £4.6 billion, representing the lowest level since November last year.
Total good imports into the UK rose by £2.7 billion, or 5.4 percent of the month, with stronger demand for products from both EU and non-EU countries.
The value of exports from the UK overseas increased by £1.9 billion, or 6.6 percent, for the month.
The figures also showed that the UK’s trade deficit for goods and services widened by £0.4 billion to £10.4 billion in the three months to July, as imports grew by more than exports.
Analysts said it was partly driven by a larger-than-expected deficit in July.
Elliott Jordan-Doak, senior UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: “The underlying trade balance fell erratically in July, but it will remain weak.
“The headline trade deficit widened in July, driven by a sharp deterioration in the underlying trade balance.”
The ONS reported that there was zero growth in gross domestic product (GDP) month on month in July, slowing from 0.4 percent growth in June.
Kathleen Brooks at XTB said the “weak” monthly trade data “weighed” on GDP during the month.
