British economy still suffers due to tariffs, according to Bank of England's chief.
Fresh Take:
Andrew Bailey, Bank of England governor, celebrated the US-UK trade deal's reduction of tariffs on cars, steel, and aluminum, but issued a cautionary note. Despite the good news, Bailey highlighted that tariffs would still be higher than before Trump's tariff spree.
Speaking at an economics conference in Reykjavik, he said, "In a world filled with uncertainty, this deal leaves the effective tariff rate higher than it was before all of this began."
Bailey also addressed the division within the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) vote on interest rates. He emphasized that the MPC's discussions are open, frank, and lively, stating, "Differences of views are inevitable consequences of the uncertainty we face."
Officials have faced criticism for not challenging the MPC's stance. In the latest MPC vote, Bailey and four others favored cutting interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, while two wanted a more significant cut to 4%, and another pair preferred no cut at all.
Got More Questions? Here's Some Answers:
- What are the current tariff rates after the US-UK trade deal? After the deal, the US maintains a 10% tariff on UK autos with a quota of 100,000 vehicles, tariffs for steel and aluminum imports may be adjusted, and the UK lowers tariffs on US goods from an average of 5.1% to 1.8%.
- What were the tariffs before the Trump administration? Pre-Trump, tariffs were usually governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), with lower tariffs directly affecting US-UK trade due to WTO agreements.
- Has the deal reduced or increased tariffs compared to the pre-Trump era? The current tariffs reveal an increase in protectionism compared to pre-Trump levels, with the US maintaining a 10% tariff on certain UK imports and the UK reducing tariffs on US goods.
- What are the next steps in the negotiation process? The aim is to reduce tariffs further, but this is contingent on successful negotiations and compliance with set conditions.
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- Andrew Bailey, while celebrating the US-UK trade deal's reduced tariffs on cars, steel, and aluminum, warned that effective tariff rates remain higher than before the tariff spree initiated by the Trump administration.
- In the world of finance and investing, Bailey Group might consider diversifying their portfolio by investing in stocks, mortgages, or even tariff-related industries, given the ongoing tariff discussions and changes.
- Despite the division within the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) vote on interest rates, Andrew Bailey emphasized the importance of groupthink and lively discussions, ensuring that differences of views are inevitable consequences of the uncertainty they face.
- In the realm of business and investing, one might choose to mitigate risks by monitoring the tariff adjustments between the US and UK, as well as the future negotiations aimed at further reductions.
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