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British entrepreneurs have sounded the alarm that Washington's commercial prices constitute a direct threat to profits, which has prompted some to point out that they plan to stop to operate in the United States, reveals a new investigation.
Research, conducted by the entrepreneur network, has shown that 64% of its members believe that the recent prices imposed by President Donald Trump will affect their results, with one in five considering reducing or ceasing their operations in the United States.
According to the survey, 13% said they were “extremely likely” to withdraw from the American market, signaling a potentially significant change in the way small businesses operate there.
Entrepreneurs have cited the costs of the supply chain, the impact on direct exports of products and distribution partnerships as key concerns in the evolution of the commercial landscape.
“These prices create undulations that could become waves through the Atlantic's commercial relationship,” said Andreas Adamides, general manager of HELM. “We see British entrepreneurs at a crossroads – a permanent company, other tracing new courses far from the American coast.”
He added: “While many adapt their strategies – adjust prices, explore new territories or develop different products – the trade land of the United Kingdom -US changes under our feet.”
The results come a few days after a survey by the World Bank HSBC, which interviewed 2,000 British companies ranging from small businesses to large companies. He noted that 66% of companies would face a certain impact in response to prices.
Tina McKenzie, a political president of the small businesses, said that the confidence of small businesses is “already fragile, therefore the price hikes on the trade in the United Kingdom will harm small businesses harshly”.
The United States is the main market for 59% of small exporters, she added, so the addition of costs to which a source of vital income for thousands of companies.
“Export is one of the rare ways in which small businesses can strengthen their position in a uncertain period, which is why negotiations to promote free trade with the United States, the EU and other countries must continue,” said McKenzie.
The disruption of the international expedition between China and the United States caused by prices already affects the luxury of Hunter, said the director general of the packaging manufacturing company.
Mike Banister said that production jobs in Chinese factories had stopped and that expeditions were independent in warehouses. Goods which have been dispatched, on the other hand, have been faced with delays as congestion built in American ports. “In the long term,” he said, “plans must be completely reassessed.”
Banister added that uncertainty around any additional price announcements “is, if anything, worse”.
The volatility of the current market has led 28% of HELM members to start exploring alternative markets, with just under 10% of the 400 respondents already obtaining new partnerships outside the United States, the survey revealed.
“We have actively explored other supply routes from countries which, in our view, will not be as affected, such as India, Malaysia, Cambodia and Turkey,” said Mark McCormack, Co-chef of Talking Tables, a festive supplies company, in search of options other than China.
While some are looking elsewhere, almost a quarter of the respondents remain attached to their place in the American market, implementing attenuation strategies to keep the uncertainty led by prices away.
A third party said they planned to continue doing business there in the same way as before the announcement of the price, by adopting a “waiting approach”.
On Wednesday, the American president said he had planned To exempt manufacturers of certain prices; Last week, her administration said that she would exempt the consumer electronics from “reciprocal” prices placed on Chinese imports.
Companies of all sizes will be close to any result of Friday's meeting in Washington DC between the British Chancellor Rachel Reeves and her American counterpart Scott Bessent to discuss a potential trade in the United Kingdom-US.
