Buy Dorset, Back Britain
Vikki Slade MP encourages Dorset residents to ‘Buy Dorset, Back Britain’
In response to Donald Trump's tariffs wreaking havoc on international trade, Vikki Slade encourages Dorset residents to buy local and prioritise our British businesses.
Vikki said: “We should support our Great British products to protect them from the economic shock caused by Donald Trump’s aggressive trade war, whether it’s using local producers or spending on our high streets.”
"I visited retailers in Wareham to hear more about the challenges they are currently facing and to see some of the brilliant things already being done to support local retailers championing local producers."
“I have also recently been hosting round table events where I have invited local professionals from a range of sectors to engage in discussions about the hurdles they face professionally and to explore what could be meaningfully done to have a positive impact."
“I will continue to visit retailers and will be asking them to take part in my spring survey so I can better understand the hurdles they face.”
Worryingly, our Dorset farmers may also be put in even further stress after the Times reported that tariffs on US beef, chicken and pork would all be slashed in a proposed agreement between Trump and the UK. American animal welfare standards are lower than on our family farms who have already been undercut following the Conservative’s disastrous deal with Australia and New Zealand.
It is estimated that Trump’s tariffs could wipe out up to 1% of GDP, pushing many British businesses to the wall. The measures that have so far been announced by the US will see 10% tariffs on UK exports and 25% tariffs on all automotive exports to the US.
The Liberal Democrats have outlined a number of steps the Government should already be taking to back British businesses in the face of tariffs and stagnant economic growth. They included scrapping the growth-crushing jobs tax coming into effect in the coming days and overhauling the broken business rates system to unleash the growth potential of our high-streets and manufacturers.
Action must be taken to shield British businesses from the incoming storm.
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