Uncertainty created by the latest round of US tariffs could make the UK a more attractive base for Japanese businesses, according to audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. The US applied new tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act from 24 July, set at 12.5 per cent on imports from Japan.
Yusuke Takanishi, a partner at the firm, said: “Following the reintroduction of US tariffs, the long-standing and stable investment relationship between the UK and Japan may become even more valuable in the years ahead.”
He added: “The new US tariffs apply to many major trading partners, including Japan, under a different legal and policy framework from previous trade measures. This is despite the fact that Japan has worked hard to strengthen economic ties with the United States over recent years. Japanese companies have expanded manufacturing facilities, invested in infrastructure, strengthened supply chains and created jobs across the US.”
Takanishi said: “The latest US measures suggest that the relationship between investment and trade policy may not be as straightforward as businesses would hope. Even where economic cooperation is deep and long-standing, companies may still find themselves exposed to new tariffs introduced through a different policy route.”
UK goods have also been subject to US duties. The US International Trade Commission estimates American buyers paid $1.36bn in tariffs on British exports over four months last year, six times the figure for the same period in 2024.
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