US tariffs and potential UK retaliatory measures: what this might mean for chemistry businesses and research

The recent imposition of additional tariffs by the United States of America on various imported goods and the broader economic impacts of them are of concern to the RSC’s community in the UK and internationally.

We recognise these broad impacts and are monitoring closely. This article has a UK focus and aims to encourage UK-based chemistry businesses and researchers to consider the impacts of potential retaliatory tariffs the UK Government is considering.

UK Government response

The 10% tariffs imposed by the US on imports from the UK applied from 5 April and are on top of existing duties. They are already requiring businesses to consider their export markets and plans. We know companies are having to review business strategies, and we wish them well as they go through re-evaluation.

In response to the US tariffs, the UK Government has said it remains committed to negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens the existing fair and balanced trading relationship. It has also said it will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest whilst supporting traders.

The UK Government is considering retaliatory measures and has launched a Request for Input on the impacts of these proposals. Alongside this, it has published a list of goods imported from the US that would be subject to retaliatory measures.

Impacts for chemistry businesses and researchers

Chemistry businesses and researchers whose suppliers of equipment, reagents, feedstocks and other products are in the US will be considering the impacts of potential retaliatory tariffs.

If you could or would be impacted, we encourage you to check relevant product types on the UK Government’s list and consider responding to the Request for Input by 1 May. This will help UK Government officials to understand the economic and other impacts of retaliatory tariffs on the product categories where you rely on supplies from the US.

The list of potential products for retaliatory tariffs is comprehensive and more than 400 pages long. Impacts will vary between companies and research groups, but our keyword searching suggests it includes chemistry-relevant products.

Some categories that could be subject to tariffs include:

• Various chemical elements and compounds, including chlorine, helium, oxygen, carbon dioxide, silicon dioxide and various acids. (These are largely grouped on pages 119-126.)
• Scientific instruments, laboratory consumables and equipment, such as equipment for filtering or purifying gases and liquids, including catalytic converters, and ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, of porcelain or china (excl. refractory ceramic goods, electrical devices, insulators and other electrical insulating fittings).

These examples are far from comprehensive, but show the importance of checking supply chains to understand impacts and inputting to the policy process if you might be impacted. Please do share any examples or case studies of the impact of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs on chemistry research and companies, particularly SMEs, via policy@rsc.org

We will use these examples and insights in our conversations with the UK Government and funders to convey the impacts on the chemical sciences community.