NewsBeat
How could they affect the UK and your money
Business reporter, BBC News
Getty ImagesUS President Donald Trump has announced fresh import taxes on goods being imported to America in the latest escalation of the global trade war.
The UK has been hit with a 10% tariff on all of its goods being brought into the US, which Trump says is a retaliation to UK tariffs on American goods, but uncertainty remains over the potential impact on British consumers.
Here’s how you and your money could be affected.
1. Prices could go up, but could also go down
The tariffs Trump has just announced will be paid for by the businesses which import goods into the US.
Clarissa Hahn, economist at Oxford Economics, says this means that the initial impact of price rises will be on US consumers, as American firms are likely to pass on the extra costs to their customers.
However, she adds people in the UK could subsequently be affected by the measures, which come into effect on 5 April.
One way is via the value of the pound and exchange rates, which dictate the cost to UK businesses importing goods and raw materials from abroad. If import costs go up, these extra costs could be passed on to consumers through higher prices.
Following Trump’s speech on Wednesday, exchange rates between the dollar and pound fluctuated. If the value of the dollar strengthens as some economists have predicted, import costs could rise for UK firms importing goods.
Higher prices in the UK could also “prompt workers to demand higher wages”, which would further raise costs for businesses, according to Ahmet Ihsan Kaya, principal economist, at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
Ms Hahn adds if the UK government decides to retaliate with tariffs of its own on US goods entering the UK, there is a risk UK prices could rise if British businesses pass on extra costs to customers.
However, some economists have suggested prices could also initially fall as a result of Trump’s decision to impose tariffs.
Swati Dhingra, economist and member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee, which sets interest rates, has suggested that firms which normally send their goods to the US, may instead send them to counties such as the UK which don’t have such steep tariffs, potentially leading to a flood of cheaper goods in the UK.
“Tariffs of the proposed magnitude are likely to prompt firms that export to the US to lower their prices to retain demand for their products,” she suggests.
2. It could affect your job
British companies which export goods to the US are set be the hardest hit from the latest measures.
The UK exported almost £60bn worth of goods to the US last year, mainly machinery, cars and pharmaceuticals. Other industries, which are big exporters to the US, include fishing and electronics.
If US demand for UK products dwindles due to the extra charges importers face, this could hit profit margins and ultimately lead to UK job cuts unless British firms find new customers outside the US.
According to the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, Jaguar Land Rover and the Mini factory in Cowley, Oxford, appear to be the most exposed to US tariffs on cars.
It says more than 25,000 jobs in the UK car manufacturing industry “could be at risk” with a 25% tariff coming into effect on Thursday, with one in eight UK-built cars exported to the US.
The pharmaceutical industry is also heavily reliant on trade with the US, says Ms Hahn, of Oxford Economics.
The US makes up 40% of AstraZeneca’s sales and 50% of GSK’s. Although both British-headquartered firms have manufacturing facilities in America, raw ingredients for life-saving medicines and vaccines travel between the UK, EU and US. Under tariffs the firms could be hit with multiple tax charges as they cross borders to be developed.
There is also the issue of how tariffs work when they collide with pricing caps that both the NHS and other health organisations set for buying drugs in bulk.
3. Interest rates may stay higher for longer
UK interest rates dictate the costs households have to pay to borrow money for things such as mortgages, credit cards and loans. Higher rates also boost returns for savers.
They are currently at 4.5%, but economists are predicting two more rate cuts by the end of the year.
However, the Bank of England highlighted US tariffs as a reason why it avoided cutting rates further last month, saying economic and global trade uncertainty had “intensified”.
If prices are pushed up for long enough to affect the rate of inflation – this could mean interest rates stay higher for longer.
Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England governor, said it was Bank’s job “to make sure that inflation stays low and stable” and that would be “looking very closely” at the impact of tariffs.
Former Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has criticised Keir Starmer’s strategy of positioning Nigel Farage as the main opposition to his government, warning it could prove counterproductive.
The comments come after Starmer launched a series of attacks on the Reform UK leader during a speech at a glass factory in St Helens, describing the Conservative party as “sliding into the abyss” and identifying Reform as Labour’s main challenger.
On Tuesday, Farage vowed to reverse cuts to winter fuel payments and scrap the two-child benefit cap, with an ambition to slash income tax.
Starmer compared Farage’s fiscal proposals to Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget, saying Reform was committed to “billions upon billions of completely unfunded spending”. He called this “Liz Truss all over again” and “Liz Truss 2.0”.
Former Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s strategy
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“We’re once again fighting the same fantasy, this time from Farage – the same bet in the same casino that you could spend tens of billions of pounds on tax cuts without a proper way of paying [for] it,” Starmer said.
Former Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle told GB News: “One of my colleagues said to me last week, the big problem with what we’re doing is we’re turning Nigel Farage into our only opposition.
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“And so, if you’re fed up with the Labour Party and people get fed up with governments of all stripes they’re not very political.
“Very often, they just want to send a message of give another guy a go.
“And if we’re telling everyone the only other guy that’s in the running to have another go at this is Nigel Farage, it’s not the strategy that I would be choosing, because I think it might end up shooting you in the foot.”
He added: “What Labour has to do is do the proof in the pudding. Introduce the Farage giveaways, but show how you can pay for it without trying to slash the potential of jobs in the green economy, which is what the Green Deal will do.
“Bring jobs to this country. Show that you can cut a better deal with America without giving our chlorinated chicken for example, which they have done.
“They need to start to be better at selling the things they’re doing, reversing the mistakes they’ve made, and introducing progressive taxation.
“Because if they just say, ‘look at that horrible man over there’, it won’t work. We know it hasn’t worked, as you said, in other countries.”
Keir Starmer asked whether Nigel Farage can be trusted POOLFarage has argued that his measures can be paid for by scrapping net zero commitments and ending the use of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers.
The Prime Minister described the Conservatives as “sliding into the abyss” and identified Reform as Labour’s main challenger.
Finishing off his speech, Starmer said: “I don’t need lessons from Nigel Farage about the issues that matter most to working people in this country.”
More Sunrise Alarm Clocks We’ve Tried
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
Vivilumens Sunrise Alarm Clock for $36: This sunrise alarm works fine but seems better suited as a desk lamp than a true sunrise alarm. But it could be a fun pick if you live in a studio and need a device that can both work for your desk or your bedside alarm. It also has a USB-A charging port and can show time as 24 or 12 hour.
Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light (HF3520/60) for $109: This might sound similar to the lamp we recommend above, but it has a different shape and is missing the word “Sleep” from the name because it doesn’t offer a nighttime routine like our top pick. But it still works great as a morning sunrise lamp, and similar to the other Philips model, it’s easy to set up without any instructions on hand. It’s a good affordable model, but not as cheap as other options with similar offerings.
Lumie BodyClock Glow 150 for $129: This cute little clock worked fine, but our other picks are bigger and brighter. You could get the WiiM for the same price, or the Philips HF3520 for even cheaper.
Lumie Shine 300 for $159: This sunrise alarm is pretty similar to the Luxe 700FM but doesn’t have as many radio-forward features like the telescoping antenna and multiple channel-saving buttons, and the light controls aren’t as easy as the dial. But if you don’t mind those changes and want to spend less money, the Shine 300 is a great alternative choice. It’s out of stock right now on Amazon and Lumie’s site, but we expect it to return.
Hatch Restore 2 for $170: Hatch isn’t selling this model any longer, but you can find it on some third-party retailers and sites like Amazon and eBay. It’s a fine device that gives you the same app and sound offerings as the Hatch Restore 3, but the Restore 3 has much better controls. I recommend skipping this device for the newer model.
Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light for $220: We previously recommended this sunrise alarm, formerly known as Somneo. Its name is nearly identical to our top pick, and it has the same shape. The Connected version had an app and extra capabilities similar to the WiiM, but it’s no longer available.
FAQs
How Do Sunrise Alarms Work?
Your body is built to wake naturally with the sunrise and feel sleepy as the sun sets. The light at both the beginning and end of the day is a warm, golden tone, unlike the midday bright, slightly blue sunlight that keeps you wide awake. A sunrise alarm clock mimics this transition from morning to bright daytime light, helping to signal your body to wake up (or fall asleep, if the clock also has a sunset option).
Each alarm below offers a sunrise routine, meaning you choose a time to wake up and then the alarm clock will start displaying a deep orange glow and transition to a bright light by the time your alarm is set for. Some offer customization, allowing you to choose how long you want that artificial sunrise to be, while others have set timers. Some also allow the reverse option with a sunset routine and can double as sound machines. Most of these plug into the wall like a classic alarm clock and stay put, though sometimes there’s a companion app or recharging capabilities (if it’s not mentioned, though, assume it doesn’t).
What Should You Look For in a Sunrise Alarm?
There’s a lot of features to consider in a sunrise alarm, but which ones that you’ll like best vary by person.
If you struggle to fall asleep: splurge on a lamp with a nighttime or wind-down routine. These help build a routine for you to fall asleep to.
If you need a bedside lamp and sunrise alarm: get a brighter sunrise alarm that has easy controls to switch it on as a bedside lamp. Not all sunrise alarm clocks have these, so check the details carefully (and reviews like ours)
If you want a specific bedside sound: check how many sounds are offered. Just about every sunrise alarm clock has some sound machine features and options, but cheaper ones tend to only have a couple of sounds.
If you want app control: some options in this guide don’t have a partner app or Wi-Fi capabilities, especially some of my favorites. An app doesn’t necessarily make it a better sunrise alarm, but it can be convenient to use. If you prefer an app to set up your sunrise alarm, shop the Casper, Hatch, WiiM, and Loftie.
How I Test Sunrise Alarms
I tested each recommended sunrise alarm clock on my bedside in a room with blackout curtains to see how much it could really brighten a room over the course of its sunrise routine. I slept with each sunrise alarm for anywhere between one and seven nights, depending on its performance. I also tried out the various sound options each machine had to offer to both test the speakers and see how pleasant the sounds were to wake up or fall asleep to. If there was a nighttime routine option, I tested that too.
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