Half of Brits less likely to buy US goods after Trump tariffs as public overwhelmingly backs a ‘Buy British’ campaign

EMBARGO: 22.30 Tuesday 8th April

Half of UK adults say they are now less likely to buy American products in the wake of Donald Trump’s tariffs on the UK, a shocking new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

Meanwhile almost six in 10 (59%) say they would support a campaign to buy more British made goods following Trump unleashing his damaging trade war.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to launch a ‘Buy British’ campaign to urge people to shop local and back British-made goods. In Canada, the “Buy Canadian” movement has seen a surge in people buying locally produced goods, with Prime Minister Mark Carney urging people to ‘Buy Canadian’ wherever they can.

The polling revealed that following the announcement of Trump’s tariffs, 50% of British adults say they are now less likely to buy US goods. Almost one in three (32%) said they were a lot less likely to buy US goods, while 18% said they were slightly less likely.

Brits also support rallying around homegrown businesses with 59% saying that they would support a campaign to buy more British goods. Those of pension age were the most likely to say they would support a Buy British campaign with a staggering 81% of those aged 65+ saying they backed such a movement. Just 13% of the public said they would oppose a campaign of this nature.

The Liberal Democrats said that the poll showed the public was “appalled by Donald Trump’s destructive trade war” and called on the Government to support the party’s campaign. The Lib Dems also said that Ministers needed to unleash the growth potential of British businesses by scrapping their jobs tax, overhauling the broken business rates system and ruling out a trade deal that undercuts British farmers.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP said:

“Many people are appalled by Donald Trump’s destructive trade war and want to back local businesses and producers in their time of need. The Government needs to listen to the public and launch a ‘Buy British’ campaign, as part of a national effort to back British businesses.

“Ministers need to also rally behind our farming communities and support fantastic home-grown British produce, by ruling out any deal with Trump that undercuts the high food and animal welfare standards upheld by our British farmers.

“This would send a collective message to the White House that we are not prepared to simply cower in the corner while Donald Trump takes a wrecking ball to people’s jobs and living standards.

“That needs to be combined with a clear plan to unleash the potential of our businesses and high streets, including scrapping the disastrous jobs tax and reforming the broken business rates.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,170 UK adults aged 18+ online between 4th April and 6th April 2025. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade. The full polling data from Savanta can be found here.