Will there be any repercussions for UK hauliers following President Trump's trade tariffs?

Will there be any repercussions for UK hauliers from this week's trade tariff announcement by President Trump?

With major manufactures such as Jaguar Land Rover exporting over a quarter of its UK production to the US, it would seem highly likely that the UK transport sector will be early indicators of any immediate changes in global supply chains. 

Will container traffic at the UK's biggest transatlantic port, Liverpool, be affected? Will there be a renewed focus on short sea European trade favouring UK East Coast ports? Could the UK suddenly become an attractive cross trade nation as other countries try to take advantage of the UK's more favourable trade rates with the US?

The American Truckers Association reports an unprecedented surge in demand as trade front loaded into the January to March period, as shippers prepared for the tariff increase, with last week marking the highest levels of demand ever recorded. 

Volumes from Toronto to Chicago were up 50%, rates up between 10% and 50% and truckers have even been paid to run empty from US to get orders out of Canada before the deadline. 

However new orders for Chinese freight in 01 dropped to the lowest level in two decades indicating a very different 02. 

The Canadian Trucking Alliance has stated the tariffs will devastate a trucking industry already suffering the worst freight economy in forty years. Canadian shippers have already started cancelling forward orders to the US and some trucking fleets have started laying off employees. 

Back to Europe and in response to the worsening driver shortage in all countries, the EU has backed away from plans to make it mandatory for all member states to allow 17-year-olds to train as truck drivers, instead leaving it up to each country to decide. 

The proposal sparked safety concerns regarding novice drivers and the final deal includes progressive steps such as a two-year probation for all new drivers and mandatory training on driver assistance systems. 

From April 1st, the Import Control System (ICS2) which is the EU safety and security system became mandatory in all EU states. The question is not whether they are ready or not, they must be ready. 

ICS2 will require two separate declarations in NCTS5, a customs declaration and an ENS (safety and security). The UK only applies ICS2 for Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. 

Steelmaker giant ArcelorMittal expects its service providers in Germany, including its transport suppliers to provide voluntary lower prices otherwise the company will introduce a direct reduction itself. 

The EU still requires 35,000 fast charging points to achieve the EU's CO2 reduction targets by 2030, currently there are 1000. 

Daimler Truck has developed a concept for its customers, TruckCharge, launching Q3 2025, creating over 3,000 fast charging points in the EU by 2030, making it the largest in Europe. With consulting, infrastructure and operations under a single entity, Daimler aims to close the gap for full electrification.