United Kingdom Tariff Rates 2026: 10% on US Imports

The United Kingdom's 10% base tariff rate is now the Section 301 forced-labor tariff that replaced Section 122 on July 24, 2026 — the UK is in the 10% tier. Post-Brexit, under the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal the UK benefits from a reduced Section 232 rate on steel and aluminum — a flat 25% on metal articles (vs 50% for other countries) and 15% on derivatives, provided 95%+ of the metal is melted and poured in the UK — and its ability to negotiate directly with the US gives it more trade policy flexibility than EU member states. US imports from the UK total approximately $65B annually.

Post-Brexit, the UK has sought to deepen trade ties with the US, but a comprehensive bilateral FTA has not been concluded. Under the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal, UK-origin steel and aluminum pays a flat 25% Section 232 rate (vs 50% for other countries), with 15% on derivatives, provided 95%+ of the metal is melted and poured in the UK. Annual US-UK goods trade totals approximately $130B. Negotiations on a bilateral trade deal have progressed on specific sectors but a full FTA remains elusive. The UK's independent trade policy (separate from the EU since Brexit) allows it to negotiate directly with the US.

Key Products Imported from United Kingdom

Top imports include machinery, pharmaceuticals, vehicles (Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley), crude oil, alcoholic beverages (Scotch whisky, gin), precious metals, aircraft engines (Rolls-Royce), and chemicals. The UK is also a major financial services exporter, though this is services-based.

Recent Changes

Feb 20, 2026: SCOTUS struck down IEEPA tariffs 6-3 — the UK's base rate moved to the Section 301 forced-labor tariff (10% tier), which replaced the expired 10% Section 122 baseline on July 24, 2026. In August 2026, 25 states sued at the Court of International Trade to block the forced-labor tariff, but CBP continues collecting it while the case proceeds. The UK's reduced Section 232 arrangement under the Economic Prosperity Deal remains in place — a flat 25% on metal articles (vs 50% for other countries) and 15% on derivatives, for metal 95%+ melted and poured in the UK. Scotch whisky tariffs from the Boeing-Airbus dispute remain suspended. The competitive picture versus the EU has shifted twice: the SCOTUS ruling briefly leveled the field (EU countries dropped from 20% to 10%), but since July 1, 2026 the EU-US trade deal puts most EU goods at a 15% all-inclusive ceiling while the UK stays at the 10% forced-labor tariff — restoring a roughly 5-point UK edge on most goods. US-UK sector-by-sector trade talks continue.

Tips for Importers

The UK regained a rate advantage over EU suppliers on July 1, 2026: most EU goods now face the EU deal's 15% all-inclusive ceiling, while UK goods pay the 10% Section 301 forced-labor tariff (which replaced Section 122 on July 24, 2026) — and the EU's 15% deal rate likewise has no built-in expiry. The UK's reduced Section 232 rate remains valuable: UK metal articles pay a flat 25% (vs 50% for other countries) and derivatives 15%, provided 95%+ of the metal is melted and poured in the UK. Scotch whisky faces the 10% Section 301 forced-labor tariff (which replaced Section 122 on July 24, 2026) plus MFN spirits duties — compare with duty-free spirits from FTA countries. Pharmaceuticals enter at 0% MFN, making the 10% forced-labor tariff the only layer. Rolls-Royce aircraft engines should be classified carefully under HTS codes with potential 0% MFN treatment. Section 122 expired July 24, 2026 and was replaced by the 10% forced-labor tariff — plan accordingly.