Trade deals could push UK growth beyond expectations

ECONOMIC growth in Britain could be higher than expected due to trade deals agreed with the US and the EU, experts have predicted.

- By Mauricio Alencar

Most forecasters downgraded the economic outlook for the coming year in the wake of Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.

The International Monetary Fund warned the UK was set to suffer a hit of 0.3% to gross domestic product. But a new forecast has suggested that the country could be on track for higher growth due to trade deals easing friction and greater clarity being offered to investors and markets.

KPMG economist Yael Selfin said growth could reach 1.2% this year compared with the consultancy’s previous forecast of 0.8%.