As global stock markets reel in response to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, many UK businesses may assume this is a crisis confined to Wall Street or the multinational giants.

However, Monday’s sharp market downturn has shown that these developments have the potential to affect businesses and individuals much closer to home.

The FTSE 100 fell by more than six per cent in early trading, its worst performance since the onset of the Covid pandemic.

Every single company in the index opened in the red.

Shares in Rolls-Royce fell by 12 per cent, while major banks such as Barclays and NatWest dropped between seven and eight per cent.

These figures may seem distant from day-to-day operations, yet the underlying issues are deeply relevant across the UK economy.

Rising costs in the real economy

At first glance, a fall in Rolls-Royce’s share price may appear inconsequential to most businesses.

However, if companies of this scale seek to recover losses by increasing their prices, the impact cascades through the supply chain.

This can affect component manufacturers, logistics firms, service providers, and even maintenance contractors. Those increased costs inevitably find their way to SMEs and end consumers.

Even if your business has no direct relationship with multinational firms, the overall inflationary pressure could affect everything from equipment pricing to energy costs.

UK exporters face tough decisions

For UK businesses trading with the United States, these tariffs create a dilemma.

The 10 per cent baseline tariff (and higher rates for specific sectors) force firms to choose whether to absorb the cost or raise prices elsewhere to balance their books.

Increasing prices in other markets could undermine competitiveness, while absorbing the tariffs directly will eat into already tight profit margins.

Some businesses may choose to pause or scale back US operations, redirecting resources to more stable markets.

Personal investments and pensions under pressure

Even individuals without direct business interests in international trade are likely to be affected.

Most people in the UK have some degree of exposure to the stock market through their pension savings.

Defined contribution pension schemes, in particular, tend to include global equities, meaning that sharp market corrections can erode pension values in the short term.

There is some good news. Government bonds, which many pension funds also hold, have increased in value as investors seek safer assets.

This could help to offset losses, but continued market volatility presents long-term risks to retirement planning and investment growth.

What might happen next?

There are several scenarios that UK businesses and individuals should keep in mind:

• Cost inflation across supply chains – Businesses may face higher prices for materials, components, or transportation, even if they do not import directly from the United States.
• Reduced global demand – As international goods become more expensive, consumers and businesses may cut back on spending, particularly in export-focused industries.
• Tighter financial conditions – Investor confidence may drop further, making it more difficult or expensive to access funding and finance.

Time to review your exposure?

While the full implications of this news are still emerging, it looks like there will be plenty of volatility, disruption, and new risks for UK businesses.

This is the time to assess your business’s exposure to international markets, review your supply chain strategy, and reconsider pricing and investment assumptions.

Concerned about what this means for your business or finances? Speak with our team today for expert financial advice.