Region 'less exposed' to problems tariffs pose

THE North East is "less exposed" to the economic shock caused by Donald Trump's tariffs than other parts of the UK, regional officials believe.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

Councillors have been told that the North East is, for the moment at least, at lower risk than other regions from the sweeping tariffs that the Republican president has imposed on imports to the United States.

The global economy has been reeling as a result of the charges, which have sparked fears of a worldwide recession, though Mr Trump has since rowed back somewhat on the policy.

Though the British Government has been hoping to secure a trade deal that would make the UK exempt, UK imports to the US are now charged a 10% tariff with higher 25% rates for cars, steel, and aluminium.

While car manufacturing at Sunderland's Nissan plant is a cornerstone of the North East economy, North East Combined Authority (NECA) chiefs say that it is less reliant on exports to America than the Midlands-based Jaguar Land Rover factory.