By JAMES TAPSFIELD, POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE

Published: 14:01 BST, 13 April 2025 | Updated: 14:04 BST, 13 April 2025

Donald Trump’s impact on the Special Relationship has been underlined in a new poll today.

Some 34 per cent of Brits view the US as more of a threat than an ally – up from just 16 per cent at the time of the presidential election last November.

That is effectively the same proportion as the 35 per cent who still have confidence in the alliance after Mr Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and overtures to Russia.

The Opinium research found that three-quarters of the public thought they had a lot in common with the French, traditionally seen as rivals. 

That was more than the 69 per cent who said the same thing about the US.

However, Brits seem to suspect a shift in American views on Mr Trump, with 48 per cent thinking he does not represent the views of citizens. 

That was up from a third in January.

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There is gloom about the impact of Mr Trump’s chaotic trade war. Some 57 per cent believe it will make the US worse off, with just 16 per cent saying it will improve matters on that side of the Atlantic.

Brits are even more negative about their own prospects, with 64 per cent anticipating a financial hit and just 8 per cent predicting they will be better off. 

Rachel Reeves warned Brits to brace for ‘difficult’ times today as the UK now looks to be among the countries worst hit by Mr Trump’s tariffs.

Downing Street signalled relief when the US president’s assault was originally mounted. 

The UK was only targeted with the ‘baseline’ 10 per cent – as well as the worldwide 25 per cent charge on imports of cars, steel and aluminium.  

However, last week the US president postponed much tougher ‘reciprocal’ levies on the EU and a swathe of other trading partners as markets went into freefall.

He made another extraordinary climbdown yesterday by declaring that smartphones, computers and other electronic devices will be exempted from tariffs – including the 125 per cent he had charged on China imports.

That had sparked warnings that the prices of iPhones could triple in the US.

It has left the UK’s position looking relatively less attractive than other countries, even though the trade relationship was largely in balance before Mr Trump’s attack.

Cars are among Britain’s main goods exports to America, while the ailing steel industry also relies on the route.

Meanwhile, hopes have been fading that Keir Starmer can strike a wider Transatlantic trade deal to get rid of all tariffs.

The PM had hinted at concessions on a digital services tax, but Trump advisers have suggested there is little chance of a complete exemption from levies. 

The ‘baseline’ reciprocal tariff of 10 per cent never applied to Canada and Mexico.

The Chancellor warned today that the tariffs will have a ‘profound’ impact, saying she is ‘under no illusion about the difficulties that lie ahead’. 

But in an article for the Observer she said the UK will argue for a ‘more balanced global economic and trading system’ that ‘recognises the benefits of free trade’, in an effective rejection of Mr Trump’s protectionism.

Ms Reeves stressed she wants ‘an ambitious new relationship with the EU’ as well as closer links with countries such as India. 

‘The Labour party is an internationalist party. We understand the benefits of free and fair trade and collaboration. Now is not the time to turn our backs on the world,’ she wrote. 

In a largely symbolic step, the UK Global Tariff will be temporarily suspended on imports of 89 products such as pine nuts and plywood.

The government says that will save UK businesses £17million a year. 

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Trump hits Special Relationship: Brits see themselves as having more in common with the FRENCH than Americans – and are split over whether the US is a threat or an ally

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